Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

An approved planning application will be liable to pay CIL if it either results in 100m² or over of new floorspace, or if it comprises one or more dwellings (including self-build housing). Please note that CIL is non-negotiable.

As a CIL collecting authority, Lambeth must assess which developments are liable to pay the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), including Mayoral CIL, and then collect the amount due. For Mayoral CIL, Lambeth must pass this money on to Transport for London.

For more information on CIL and to find the forms described below, visit the Planning Portal website.

How to calculate your CIL liability - If you believe that your planning application is liable for CIL and would like to calculate what your liability will be for the Lambeth CIL and Mayoral CIL, please use the CIL Calculator.

CIL collection process

1. Everyone making a planning application must complete the CIL Additional Information (Form 1) to allow authorities to calculate levy liability. The completed form should be submitted alongside the planning application form. If this information is not included, the planning application will be invalid. Download the guidance notes on how to complete this form.
2. If CIL applies to the submitted scheme, we will calculate the amount and show the respective amounts on a CIL Liability Notice which will be issued soon after issuance of the Planning Decision Notice.
3. Before development starts, the person who will pay CIL must serve an Assumption of Liability Notice (Form 2) on the council. This will normally be either the landowner or the developer.
4. The developer must serve a Commencement Notice (Form 6) on the council no later than the day before any material operation to commence development.
5. Once the council receives the Commencement Notice (or becomes aware that development has started), the council will serve a Demand Notice for the full amount of CIL or, if the development meets the criteria of the instalments policy, a demand notice for payment of the first instalment.
6. If the council does not receive a Commencement Notice and the development starts, the full amount of CIL is payable immediately and penalties will be applied.

Applying for CIL relief

Relief or exemption from CIL may be available. You can apply for this by completing either the Charitable and/or Social Housing Relief form (Form 10), the Self-Build Exemption form (Form 7), the Residential Annex Exemption form (Form 8) or the Residential Extension Exemption form (Form 9) and submitting the completed form to cil@lambeth.gov.uk.

When applying for relief, please allow at least four weeks from the time a valid claim for relief is submitted and all the required information in respect of the claim for relief is received by the Council. All claims for relief are assessed and recommended by the Lambeth CIL team for final approval. All decisions on CIL relief are made in accordance with the Council's constitution and with the local scheme of delegation approved by the Strategic Director for Climate and Inclusive Growth (CIG).

The Head of Operations and Innovation has authority to grant claims for mandatory relief with a value of up to £100,000.

The Director of Economy, Culture and Skills has authority to grant claims for mandatory relief with a value of up to £500,000.

For claims for mandatory relief that are over £500,000, the power to grant relief remains vested in the Strategic Director for Climate and Inclusive Growth (CIG).

In respect of claims for discretionary relief, the Strategic Director for Climate and Inclusive Growth (CIG) have authority to grant for up to £100,000 in value. If the claim for discretionary relief is over £100,000, the decision will be made by the Strategic Director for Climate and Inclusive Growth (CIG) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Cost of Living and the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Growth and New Homes.

Applicants for relief are advised to submit a commencement notice and time the date of commencement of development on or after the date the decision on relief takes effect. The CIL Regulations provide that any claim for relief or exemption (including social housing relief, charitable relief, self-build exemption and exemptions for residential annexes or extensions) will lapse if development is commenced before a decision on relief takes effect.

For more information on reliefs and exemptions, please visit the Lambeth CIL and Mayoral CIL sections on this website and for further guidance, visit the Planning Portal website.