Revised Community Infrastructure Levy

Posted on 15 Aug 2025

Revised Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule – Submission to Secretary of State.

The Stevenage Borough Revised Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule was submitted to the Secretary of State for Independent Examination on 15 August 2025.

The Stevenage Borough Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) was adopted on 29 January 2020. Any applications granted permission on or after 1 April 2020 may be liable to pay a CIL charge.

CIL is a charge that a Local Authority can apply to developers who are constructing additional floorspace. The CIL money that is collected by an authority can be spent on infrastructure which is necessary to support proposed growth in their area. This could involve schemes involving education, transport, community facilities, parks and leisure or other projects which are needed as a result of development taking place. The governance of spending CIL money will be developed in the coming months.

A local authority may review their existing Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) rate to make sure it aligns with current economic conditions, development trends, and community needs.

A review can help determine whether the existing rate is still effective in funding necessary infrastructure projects without deterring development. Changes in land values, construction costs, and demographic shifts could prompt a reassessment to ensure that the CIL rate remains fair and proportionate. Additionally, a review could address any legal or policy changes at national level that impact local funding mechanisms. Ultimately, regular reviews help maintain a balance between stimulating growth and providing adequate public services and amenities.

We held two recent consultations on the Revised CIL Charging Schedule. Firstly, a Preliminary Draft Charging Schedule Consultation was held from 14 October to 24 November 2024, and a second, Draft Charging Schedule Consultation was held from 22 January to 18 February 2025.

We have now submitted the Stevenage Borough Revised CIL Charging Schedule to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for examination by an independent Planning Inspector.

You can read the Charging Schedule along with all the supporting and future examination documents below.

The Programme Officer has contacted representors to explain the arrangements for the Examination and establish the options available to representors should they wish to engage further in the examination process.

What happens next?

An independent Planning Inspector will be appointed to undertake an Examination into the Soundness and Legal Compliance of the Plan.

Programme officer

The Programme Officer, Helen Wilson, will act as the contact for any person who has an interest in the Examination and as a liaison between the Inspector, Council and Representors.

She is an independent officer of the Examination and works on behalf of the Inspector to organise and manage the administrative and procedural elements of the Examination process.

Any matters that anyone wishes to raise with the Inspector should be submitted via the Programme Officer.