The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a planning charge, introduced through the Planning Act 2008, to ensure that any development (particularly housing) contributes to the cost of the local infrastructure it will rely upon, such as community facilities, transport, flood defences and roads. It applies to most new buildings with charges based on the size and type of new floorspace.
In general the Levy gives communities the flexibility to choose what infrastructure they need so it can be used by the Parish Council to fund a broad range of facilities such as play areas, the Village Hall, speed indicator devices, green spaces and parks, cultural and sports facilities and so on. In fact, anything required to improve, replace, operate or maintain infrastructure necessary to support development. CIL funding needs to be spent within five years of receipt.
Whilst the majority of the CIL from any development is retained and spent by Mid Suffolk District Council (as the planning authority), a portion is paid to the Parish Council to be spent offsetting the impacts of development in the village with the Parish Council then required to report annually on the funding it has received and spent.
These reports can be found below:
