Community Infrastructure Levy Guidance

The levy may be payable on development which creates net additional floor space, where the gross internal area of new build exceeds 100 square metres. That limit does not apply to new houses or flats, and a charge can be levied on a single house or flat of any size.

The following are not liable to pay the levy:

• Development of less than 100 square metres unless this is a whole house, in which case the levy is payable;
• Fouses, flats, residential annexes and residential extensions which are built by self-builders;
• Social housing that meets the relief criteria;
• Charitable development that meets the relief criteria;
• Buildings into which people do not normally go;
• Buildings into which people go only intermittently for the purpose of inspecting or maintaining fixed plant or machinery;
• Structures which are not buildings, such as pylons and wind turbines;
• Specified types of development where local authorities have decided should be subject to a 'zero' rate and specified as such in their charging schedules;
• Vacant buildings brought back into the same use;
• Where the levy liability is calculated to be less than £50, the chargeable amount is deemed to be zero so no levy is due;
• Mezzanine floors, inserted into an existing building, unless they form part of a wider planning permission that seeks to provide other works as well.

Surrey Heath charges CIL on residential and retail developments only. Dependent on the use class of your proposal (Class C3, Class E (abc)) and where your proposal is located different rates apply. Please refer to the Council's adopted CIL Charging Schedule which includes charging zones with supporting maps to see whether your proposal is likely to be liable.

The first step is for you to complete and sign the Additional Information Requirement Form and submit this with your application. This form will be required for all residential and retail developments, including householder applications, certificates of lawfulness and applications for prior approval. In order to complete this form, please refer to the accompanying Guidance Notes.

If you consider your proposal to be CIL Liable it is advisable you also submit Form 1: Assumption of Liability. If you are responsible for paying CIL it is in your interests to submit this form with your application as this form must be submitted before development commences.

If you think you qualify for relief or exemption then you should also complete Form 2, SB1 or SB2, as appropriate and submit with your application.

On receipt of the necessary forms the Council will contact you to confirm whether your development is CIL liable and will advise the next steps.

You can find out more information and download the forms on the CIL forms webpage.