In this section
The community infrastructure levy (CIL) a planning charge for developers and landowners that supports the development of local infrastructure.
It's charged per square metre on new developments that include:
- new dwellings of any size
- any development where the internal area of a new building, extension or change of use exceeds 100 square metres
Find out more about CIL on the GOV.UK website
See if you're liable for the CIL
All the information you need to see if you're liable for the CIL is on the Planning Portal website
Exemptions and relief from CIL
Your project may be exempt from CIL under certain circumstances.
Find out about CIL exemptions on the Planning Portal website
Complete CIL forms online
Complete and submit CIL forms using our new portal
Download CIL forms
All the CIL forms from 1 to 14 are available online.
Download CIL forms online from the Planning Portal website
Calculate the costs of CIL
| Type of development | Base CIL rate | CIL rate 2024 | CIL Rate 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential (includes Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs), Co-living and Build to Rent) | £120 per square metre | £179.29 | £184 |
| Hotel | £120 per square metre | £179.29 | £184 |
| Specialist accommodations for the elderly and/or disabled including sheltered and retirement housing and nursing homes, residential care homes and extra care accommodation. (This does not include registered, not for profit care homes)(within use class C2 and C3) |
£120 per square metre | £179.29 | £184 |
| Retail (Class A1 - A5) | £120 per square metre | £179.29 | £184 |
| Retail - Within the primary shopping area (Class A1 - A5) |
£55 per square metre | £82.18 | £84.33 |
| Office | £0 per square metre | £0 | £0 |
| Industrial | £0 per square metre | £0 | £0 |
| Other uses | £0 per square metre | £0 | £0 |
| Major developed areas (MDAs) | £0 per square metre | £0 | £0 |
The annual index figure is developed for the purposes of keeping the levy rate responsive to market conditions. It is applied as set out in the ‘Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment) (England) (No.2) Regulations 2019’. More information about the latest indexation rate can be found on the BICS website.
|
Year |
Index figure |
| 2025 (the year in which planning permission was granted) (lp) | 391 |
|
2024 (the year in which planning permission was granted) (lp) |
381 |
|
2023 (the year in which planning permission was granted) (lp) |
355 |
|
2022 (the year in which planning permission was granted) (lp) |
332 |
View an annual year rate summary since 2015
Instalment information
You can pay your CIL in the following ways:
|
£0.00-£34,999.99 |
100% @60 days |
|
£35,000.00- £99,999.99 |
25% @60 days 75% @120 days |
|
Over £100,000 |
25% @60 days 50% @120 days 25% @360 days |
Download Watford CIL guidance information
You can download all the information you need about Watford community infrastructure levy (PDF 1.65 MB)
Appeal a decision
To appeal a CIL decision, you can find information on the GOV.UK website
Making a CIL payment
Important: Please quote ‘CIL’ and the planning reference number and site address when paying.
Payment can be accepted by BACS/internet transfer to:
- Account Name: Watford Borough Council
- Account number 04041955
- Sort Code 30-99-21
Alternatively, you can pay by card over the phone by calling 01923 226400.
How is CIL money spent?
Our CIL income is split in accordance with the regulations in the following way:
- 15% of the money received will be spent on priorities to address demands that new development places on our neighbourhoods in Watford. This portion of the income is referred to as Neighbourhood CIL.
- 5% is used to administer CIL in Watford
- The remaining 80%, will be spent on infrastructure projects that benefit the whole borough e.g. affordable housing and public open space. This is referred to as Watford’s Strategic CIL.
The Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) is an annual report which provides a summary of CIL and Section 106 receipts and expenditure.
Contact us
If you have any questions or need more information, contact us using our online form.
