Section 106 Agreements
Section 106 agreements are a means for Councils to secure contributions from developers for important infrastructure, to alleviate the additional burdens placed on our communities arising from housing and economic growth. The National Planning Policy Framework requires section 106 agreements to:
- Be necessary to make the development acceptable in planning terms;
- Be directly related to the development; and
- Be fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind to the development
The Community Infrastruture Levy (CIL)
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) was introduced by the Government to try to ensure that when land is developed, it comes with the necessary infrastructure to support it such as schools, public transport and leisure facilities.
CIL is charged on almost all new buildings to ensure that development contributes towards the infrastructure needed to support growth in an area. Previously many smaller developments made no specific contribution towards infrastructure, even though, collectively, they could place significant demands on local facilities.
Development started under general consent is also liable to pay CIL. This includes permitted development rights granted under the General Permitted Development Order 2015.
Full Council agreed to adopt Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule on 13 July 2017 and the Regulation123 list which sets out the elements which will be covered by CIL and Section 106 Agreements.
The implementation of the Community Infrastructure Levy takes place on 22 January 2018, meaning that any qualifying planning decision made on after this point will be subject to a CIL charge.
link | Find out how the CIL affects you
accordion | Developer Contributions
What is the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)?
The Community Infrastructure Levy is a new planning charge, introduced by the Government through the Planning Act 2008 to provide a fair and transparent means for ensuring that development contributes to the cost of the infrastructure it will rely upon, such as schools and roads. The levy applies to most new buildings and charges are based on the size and type of new floor-space created.
What are the benefits of the Community Infrastructure Levy?
The Government has decided that a tariff-based approach provides the best framework to fund new infrastructure. CIL is considered to be fairer, faster and more certain than the current system of planning obligations which are generally negotiated on a ‘case-by case’ basis. Levy rates are set in consultation with local communities and developers and provide much more certainty and are ‘up front’ about how much money developers will be expected to contribute.
Statistics show that under the system of planning obligations only a small number of all planning permissions nationally (usually the largest schemes) brought any significant contribution to the cost of supporting infrastructure. Through CIL, all but the smallest building projects will make a contribution towards additional infrastructure that is needed as a result of development.
Why should development pay for infrastructure?
Almost all development has some impact on the need for infrastructure, services and amenities so it is only fair that such development pays a share of the cost.
What is infrastructure?
Infrastructure which can be funded by the levy includes schools, transport, flood defences, hospitals, community facilities and other health and social care facilities. This definition allows the levy to be used to fund a very broad range of facilities and gives flexibility on what infrastructure may be funded.
The Levy can be spent on 'the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure'.
Do councils have to implement CIL?
Local authorities in England and Wales will be empowered, but not required, to levy on most types of development in their areas. It should be noted that in 2015 limitations to Section 106 planning obligations came into force. Which has meant that planning obligations may only requested when they meet the three key tests:
- Necessary to make the development acceptable in planning terms
- Directly related to the development; and
- Fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind to the development
How does a charging authority set a rate for their levy?
Charging authorities must produce a document called a charging schedule which sets out the rate for their levy. This is a new type of document within the folder of documents making up the council’s Local Plan but will not be part of the statutory development plan.
The levy is intended to encourage development by creating a balance between collecting revenue to fund infrastructure and ensuring that the rates are not so high that they put development at serious risk. The council draws on the infrastructure planning that underpins the development strategy for the area to help identify the total infrastructure funding gap.
Rates set should be supported by evidence, in North Kesteven’s case a whole plan viability assessment, and the area’s infrastructure needs. One standard rate can be set for an area or, if justified, specific rates for different areas and types of development can be established. The ability to set differential rates gives charging authorities more flexibility to deal with the varying circumstances of each are they work in.
Consultation must be undertaken on the draft schedule and the proposed levy rates. A public examination by an independent person, usually an Inspector from The Planning Inspectorate, is then required before the charging authority can formally approve it.
The Local Authority can either adopt CIL at the rates advised by the Examiner or choose not to impose CIL. A new evidence base, consultation process and Examination but be undertaken to set different rates from those recommended by the Examiner.
How will the levy be spent?
Charging authorities are required to spend the levy’s revenue on what they see as the infrastructure needed to support the development of their area. The assessment of ‘need’ will largely by informed by the Infrastructure Delivery Plans (IDPs) published by each authority alongside their Local Plans. The levy is intended to focus on the provision of new or improved infrastructure and should not be used to remedy pre-existing deficiencies unless those deficiencies will be made more severe by new development.
How will CIL be monitored?
To ensure that the levy is open and transparent, charging authorities must prepare short reports on the levy for the previous financial year which must be placed on their websites by 31 December each year. These reports will set out how much revenue from the levy has been received, what it has been spent on and how much is left.
Associated documents
Listed here are documents relevant to the content of this webpage.
text | Community Infrastructure Levy Map (including Charging Zones)
Community Infrastructure Levy Map (including Charging Zones)
The map below shows the location of all development sites affected by Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) within North Kesteven. All affected sites are highlighted purple on the map; by clicking on an affected site, further information about its CIL status will be displayed.
For more information, please contact cilenquiries@n-kesteven.gov.uk.
text | Annual Finance Reports (including table)
North Kesteven District Council CIL Charging Schedule Residential Charging Rates (per sqm)
Zone |
Area |
Dwellings |
Apartments |
Zone 1 (blue on map) |
The Lincoln Strategy Area |
£25 |
£0 |
Zone 2 (yellow on map) |
The Non-Lincoln Strategy Area |
£15 |
£0 |
Zone 3 (orange on map) |
Developments at Canwick Heath, Grange Farm, Western Growth Corridor and Witham St Hughs Phase 3 |
£20 |
£0 |
Annual Finance Reports
link | View Annual Finance Reports