Westminster’s CIL charge takes effect

Westminster City Council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) took effect on 1 May 2016. The CIL is a charge on development to help fund infrastructure such as transport schemes and schools which the council, local community and neighbourhoods require to help accommodate new growth from development.  Westminster’s new CIL will be charged alongside the Mayor of London’s CIL which took effect on 1 April 2012 to help meet the cost of Crossrail.

The CIL will apply to planning applications, including planning appeals, which are granted permission on or after 1 May 2016 and will be chargeable on most development of buildings that include an increase of new build floorspace of 100 sqm or more of gross internal (GIA) floorspace.  For residential development CIL is triggered on any scheme that comprises a residential dwelling whether this is from new build or existing floorspace.  Some forms of development are exempt, or can be granted relief, from CIL such as domestic extensions.

The CIL charging rates (per sqm) are shown below, and a map showing the different charging zones can be viewed here.

If you would like any advice on the new charge, please feel free to contact one of the Firstplan team.