Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) charges, exemptions, penalties and appeals

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allows us to raise funds from developers and householders undertaking new building projects in the former South Lakeland local planning authority area. 

We use the money to help fund the wide range of infrastructure that is needed as a result of development. 

This includes new or safer road schemes, flood defences, schools, hospitals and other health and social care facilities, park improvements, green spaces and leisure centres. 

Find out if you need to pay CIL and what exemptions apply 

CIL is charged on residential and retail developments according to the rates and charging zones set out in our Charging Schedule below with index linked rates updated annually. 

CIL Levy Rates

For residential development, we have three zones with different rates. 

CIL charging zone maps: 

• Kendal, Canal Head CIL Charging Zone map
• Ulverston, Canal Head CIL Charging Zone map
• Ulverston, Croftlands CIL Charging Zone map

The Planning Portal provides detailed guidance on CIL including exemptions and links to CIL forms 

Planning Portal: Guide to CIL and links to the CIL forms 

In addition, there are special exemptions, surcharges and interest and an instalments policy that are specific to the South Lakeland local planning authority area. 

Special exemptions, surcharges and interest, specific to South Lakeland. 

CIL charges 

CIL is calculated per square metre of development on gross internal area (GIA). GIA is the area of a building measured to the internal face of the perimeter walls at each floor level (as defined by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Code of Measuring Practice, 6th Edition, 2007). This RICS definition is subject to exclusions set out within the CIL Regulations. 

Gross Internal Area (GIA) 

GIA is the area of a building measured to the internal face of the perimeter walls at each floor level (as defined by the RICS Code of Measuring Practice, 6th Edition, 2007). This RICS definition is subject to exclusions set out within the CIL Regulations. 

GIA should include: 

• areas occupied by internal walls and partitions
• columns, piers, chimney breasts, stairwells, lift-wells, other internal projections, vertical ducts, and the like
• atria and entrance halls, with clear height above, measured at base level only
• internal open-sided balconies, walkways, and the like
• structural, raked or stepped floors are to be treated as a level floor measured horizontally
• horizontal floors, with permanent access, below structural, raked or stepped floors
• corridors of a permanent essential nature (e.g. fire corridors, smoke lobbies)
• mezzanine floor areas with permanent access (subject to exclusion under CIL Regs)
• lift rooms, plant rooms, fuel stores, tank rooms, which are housed in a covered structure or a permanent nature, whether or not above the main roof level
• service accommodation such as toilets, toilet lobbies, bathrooms, showers, changing rooms, cleaner rooms, and the like
• projection rooms
• voids over stairwell and lift shafts on upper floors
• loading bays
• areas with a headroom of less than 1.5m
• pavement vaults
• garages and other ancillary buildings
• conservatories
• attic/loft space that is easily accessible (i.e. from a fixed staircase) and usable as habitable living accommodation 

GIA should exclude: 

• perimeter wall thicknesses and external projections
• external open-sided balconies, covered ways and fire escapes
• canopies
• voids over or under structural raked or stepped floors
• greenhouses, garden stores, fuel stores
• attic/loft space that is not easily accessible and not usable as rooms (i.e. have pulldown ladders or ceiling hatch access) 

CIL rates per square metre 

Our CIL rates per square metre are set out in the table above. The index figure for a given calendar year before 2020 is the figure for 1st November for the preceding calendar year in the national All-in Tender Price Index published by the Building Cost Information Service Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). 

The index figure for 2020 and subsequent calendar years is the figure for 1st November for the preceding calendar year in the RICS Building Index for CIL. 

How to work out CIL 

The multiplier for 2025 is 391/256 where 391 is the RICS Building Index for CIL 2025 and 256 is the BCIS index figure for 2015. 

Multiply the Gross Internal Area of your development by the initial 2015 levy rate by the 391/256 multiplier: 

Eg: 100 sq m x £50 x 391/256 = £7,636.72 

Please contact our CIL team for further assistance in calculating CIL.  

Penalties for avoiding CIL 

You might incur high costs by not dealing with CIL.  The Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 (as amended) set out the powers available to charging authorities to recover unpaid CIL. 

In addition, we have adopted a Surcharges and Interest policy, specific to the former South Lakeland charging area. 

Surcharges and Interest Policy

Appeal against CIL 

The Planning Inspectorate handle appeals against CIL. They will make sure your appeal is valid and will let you know all about the appeal process and timescales. 

Make an appeal against CIL 

CIL in South Lakeland 

CIL was introduced by the former South Lakeland District Council in 2015. Full details on introduction of CIL, plus reports on CIL income and expenditure are available on our Infrastructure Planning Policy Documents page. 

Contact us

Email: cil@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Telephone:  0300 373 3300
By post: Community Infrastructure Levy, South Lakeland House, Lowther Street, Kendal, Cumbria LA9 4DQ