Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a power which enables the Council to raise funds for infrastructure from new development.

It is levied on the net increase in floorspace arising from development. In Harrow there are two Community Infrastructure Levies:

The Mayoral CIL

The Mayoral CIL is charged at a rate of £60 per square metre. It applies to all new development in Harrow of over 100 square metre gross internal floor space, or where one or more dwellings are created. This rate excludes indexation, which is calculated based on the date planning permission is granted. The rate has increased from £35, effective 1 April 2019.

Harrow CIL

We adopted its CIL on 16 September 2013. It applies borough wide for certain uses of over 100 square metre gross internal floor space, or where one or more dwellings are created. The CIL was examined by the Planning Inspectorate and found to be legally compliant. It has been charged from the 1 October 2013.

Our charges are:

  • Residential (Use Class C3) - £110 per square metre;
  • Hotels (Use Class C1), Residential Institutions except Hospitals, (Use Class C2), Student Accommodation, Hostels and HMOs (Sui generis) - £55 per square metre;
  • Retail (Use Class A1), Financial & Professional Services (Use Class A2), Restaurants and Cafés (Use Class A3), Drinking Establishments (Use Class A4), Hot Food Takeaways (Use Class A5) - £100 per square metre
  • All other uses - nil.

The above rates are the rates as adopted in 2013. They are indexed each year in accordance with the CIL Regulations. For the indexed charge rates for 2024, view the Annual CIL Rate Summary 2024.

Annual Rate Summaries for previous years can be found below:

What you need to do

Planning applications

Whether or not you believe your development is liable, you should complete the CIL Additional Information form below and submit this with the planning application:

Further information can be found on the Planning Portal website.

When you receive your decision notice granting planning permission, it will indicate if we think your application is CIL liable (as an informative) and you'll receive a CIL Liability Notice as soon as practicable or a request to complete Form 2: Assumption of Liability.

CIL liable developments

If your application is liable for CIL, you should ensure you complete:

  • Form 2: Assumption of Liability as soon as possible after receiving a Liability Notice or a planning permission that includes an informative indicating your development is CIL liable
  • Form 6: Commencement Notice before the development commences (this form must be completed in addition to any notice relating to Building Regulations).

There are several exemptions and reliefs available from having to pay CIL. These must be applied for and approved before the development commences, as follows:

Further details on relief from CIL can be found on the Planning Portal website.

It's also your responsibility to notify us if:

If you're uncertain which forms you need to complete, please contact us before you intend to start development to avoid any unnecessary expense.

Making a CIL Payment

The details for making your CIL payment will be outlined in the Demand Notice and Invoice issued by the council once we've been notified your development has commenced.

Infrastructure Payments and Discretionary Relief

In accordance with Regulations 73(A) and 73(B) of the CIL Regulations, the Council accepts infrastructure payment in the borough.

This payment is the provision of one or more items of infrastructure. To be paid by those liable to pay CIL in respect of chargeable development on commencement of that development. This is commonly known as 'infrastructure in-kind payment'. For information view the Council's Policy in Kind Land and Infrastructure Payments document.

The council also offers Discretionary Social Housing Relief in accordance with Regulations 49A and 49B of the CIL Regulations. This relief was agreed by Cabinet on 21 October 2021 and came into effect on 1 November 2021. In accordance with the Regulations, this statement provides details regarding the availability of discretionary social housing relief.

For further information you can download the Charging Schedule.

You can use our online calculator for an indication of how much CIL you will be liable to pay for a development. The amount calculated is only indicative. The CIL liability depends on the indexation rate at the time planning permission is granted and the Council’s own measurements of the CIL liable floor area.

A formal Liability Notice showing the CIL charge will be issued shortly after planning permission is granted.

Monitoring Harrow's CIL

Download Harrow's CIL income and expenditure for each financial year since its introduction:


The Infrastructure Funding Statement (2022) reports the income and expenditure of CIL and Section 106 money during the financial year 2021/2022. In addition it provides information in respect of the infrastructure projects that will be funded over the next few years. The Infrastructure Funding Statement replaces the CIL Income and Expenditure Statements previously published by the Council.

Previous Statements:

Harrow's Community Infrastructure Levy is underpinned by the following supporting documents:


The Council is committed to using CIL revenues and other funding sources to help deliver social, economic and environmental infrastructure. This enables us to support and meet the demands arising from development.

The Infrastructure Report and subsequent revised Infrastructure Assessment and Delivery Plan were prepared in 2012. The information within them will most likely have changed (for example, number of GP clinics).

The documents will be updated as part of any review of the Local Plan and Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule. Prior to that, more current information on infrastructure should be obtained directly from the relevant infrastructure provider (ie NHS) / council department.