The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) process

The main steps in the CIL process, including what forms should be submitted and when.

For certain types of development, we charge a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). If your proposed development is one of the types of development that may be liable for CIL, you will need to follow the process detailed below.

You can find a list of all CIL forms on the planning portal website.

Please read all of the steps carefully.

Step 1

For certain types of planning application, you must complete and send us the CIL Form 1: Additional CIL Information. If you do not, your application will be deemed invalid.

The information supplied on CIL form one will help us determine whether or not CIL is payable, and if it is, calculate a provisional CIL amount. You can read the planning portal's guidance on CIL form one for guidelines on completing the form.

If your planning application is identified as liable, you will be notified by the Development Contributions Team.

If planning permission is not required (for example, if the proposed works are permitted development) but the type of development means that you may need to pay CIL, you should submit a Form 5: Notice of Chargeable Development (this includes an assumption of liability section).

Step 2

If planning permission is granted or a planning appeal allowed, we will issue a CIL Liability Notice which will detail how much CIL you need to pay.

You will be asked to submit CIL Form 2: Assumption of Liability and other forms via email by the Development Contributions Team.

Step 3

After you have submitted the assumption of liability form, you will receive an acknowledgement from the Development Contributions Team.

If you consider that your development, or part of it, should be exempt from CIL then you may also wish to submit one of the following forms:

You must submit a signed assumption of liability form (see step 2) for us to process any claims for relief.

You must wait for any claim forms to be processed and for the council to issue you with a decision letter regarding the relief, before you commence development. If you do not, you will not be eligible for relief and will be liable to pay the CIL.

Before any works start on the development site, you must submit a Form 6: Commencement Notice to the Developer Contributions Team. If you do not, you will lose the right to pay by instalments (where applicable), and we will add a surcharge.

Step 4

Once we have received your Form 6: Commencement Notice, we will send you an acknowledgement letter and a CIL Demand Notice (including invoice details). The demand notice will set out the amount of CIL you need to pay and when it is due.

If no-one has assumed liability to pay CIL before the Demand Notice is issued, the liability defaults to the owner(s) of the land and we will add a surcharge.

You can find out more about paying CIL on our charging schedule, rates, instalments and payments page.

Step 5

If there are any changes of circumstances regarding the person or party who has assumed liability to pay CIL, you should submit either Form 3: Withdrawal of Assumption of Liability or Form 4: Transfer of Assumed Liability.

You must submit the appropriate form as soon as possible and before the final payment of CIL is due.

Step 6

If your development is a self-build and you have claimed an exemption using the CIL Form 7: Self Build Exemption Claim - Part 1, you will need to submit Form 7: Self Build Exemption Claim Form, Part 2 when you have completed the works.

Further Information

Our Community Infrastructure Levy webpages have further information about CIL in West Berkshire, including calculating, paying and bidding for CIL.

You can see further guidance on which form(s) to submit on the Planning Portal.

Below is a list of other CIL related documents and webpages: