A new ‘tax’ on developers will help pay for new public facilities and ‘make sure new development brings real benefits to all our residents’.

The new community infrastructure levy (CIL) will apply from the start of March to most new developments being built in the borough. It will see developers pay a certain amount of money that can be used to deliver benefits for the community, as part of their permission. This will help to fund the new community facilities and infrastructure that will be needed as the borough grows.

And some of the CIL, known as Neighbourhood CIL, will be given to local town teams to spend on their own priorities, as part of the council’s Your Voice Your Town programme.

Councillor Shital Manro is Ealing Council’s cabinet member for good growth and new homes. He said: “The community infrastructure levy will help us make sure that new development brings real benefits to all our residents. It will provide vital funding for the community facilities that our growing communities need. By giving local people a say in how some of this money is spent, we can make sure it supports the things that matter most in each of our 7 towns.”

What is the community infrastructure levy?

The CIL is a version of a charge already applied by most London boroughs when developers receive planning permission for new developments.

The money raised will be used to help pay for the infrastructure that supports local communities, such as roads, schools, medical facilities, and green spaces. This is in addition to the existing Section 106 (S106) agreements, which will continue to be used for site-specific requirements, such as affordable housing and employment opportunities.

Unlike S106, the CIL is non-negotiable and is set at a fixed rate per square metre of new floorspace. The rates vary depending on the type of development and location. For example, new homes in central Ealing will be charged £300 per square metre, while those elsewhere in the borough will be charged £150 per square metre. Student housing and purpose-built shared living will be charged £350 per square metre, and other uses such as hotels and industry will have lower rates. However, some uses, including offices, affordable workspace, education, and community facilities, will not be charged CIL.

The introduction of the CIL is a key part of the council’s plan to support good growth across the borough. The money raised will help fund the infrastructure needed to support new homes and jobs and will also help fund projects that make the borough greener and more resilient to climate change.

A portion of the levy, known as neighbourhood CIL, will be set aside for local communities to spend on their own priorities, through the council’s Your Voice Your Town programme.

When will the levy apply?

The CIL will apply to planning applications granted on or after 1 March 2026. Developers will pay the charge when they start work on-site. Because there is often a gap between approval of planning permission and building work starting, it will take a few years before the council receives significant income from the levy. In the first year, receipts are expected to be relatively low, but they will increase over time as more developments begin.

There are some exemptions and reliefs available, including for affordable housing, self-build homes, residents extending their own homes, and developments by charities. The council will provide guidance to help developers understand when CIL applies and how to apply for any exemptions.

Next steps

The council has published the approved CIL charging schedule, which sets out the charging details, on its website. Work will continue to decide exactly how CIL and NCIL funds will be allocated, with further details to be agreed in 2026.

For more information about the community infrastructure levy, visit the council’s website.

Good growth in the borough

The introduction of CIL is just one of the initiatives run by the council during its current term to ensure good growth in the borough. Having set itself ambitious targets, the council and its partners are on track to have achieved or exceeded them by the end of April this year, with: 

• £47 million generated through Section 106 agreements, to improve public spaces, infrastructure, and affordable housing across the borough
• a comprehensive review of conservation areas, which is helping protect local heritage and guide planning decisions so that the character of affected areas is retained
• new independent community and design review panels, which ensure higher‑quality development by giving experts and residents a voice during the early stages of major planning proposals
• residents given greater control over local priorities through the Your Voice, Your Town programme, directing development‑related funding to the improvements they value most