New infrastructure and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge on developers to make sure that their developments contribute to funding local infrastructure, like roads, transport, schools, medical centres, sports and recreational facilities and flood defences.
It is subject to strict national rules which set out when it must be paid by developers (scroll to bottom of the page for guidance) and how it is spent.
What has Dartford Borough Council's CIL funded so far?
CIL cannot pay for all the new infrastructure needed to support development across Dartford. We use our CIL funds to contribute towards infrastructure the Borough’s needs. CIL is used as ‘top up’ finance to make sure projects are taken forward and delivered by service providers, such as the NHS or Kent County Council.
Since 2023, the council has agreed to spend more than £25million of CIL strategic funding to support the delivery of major infrastructure across Dartford. See below for some examples.
- The Council is supporting a new Intensive Treatment Unit at Darent Valley Hospital with £7million of Dartford’s CIL funding.
- The Council is supporting a new NHS Medical Centre at Stone/Greenhithe with £3.6million of Dartford’s CIL funding. The medical centre will provide local GP practices and a minor surgery unit.
A range of other significant new infrastructure is happening across the Borough due to funding by the Council. This includes regeneration of Dartford town centre, the new Stone Recreation Ground and improvements at Beaconwood Country Park, Bean.
Data on developer contributions received through CIL and Section 106 Agreements is reported through Dartford's Infrastructure Statement.
Supporting local facilities - not just infrastructure
CIL funds also are used to support new neighbourhood level projects benefiting the local community. Town and parish councils in the Borough have together received £4million from CIL since its introduction.
In the rest of Dartford (excluding Ebbsfleet) the Council has awarded neighbourhood CIL for a variety of local projects, including:
- community facilities
- a mental health centre
- environmental improvements
- upgraded footpaths
- parking provisions.
One example is the transformation of the Europa Weighlifting Club in Temple Hill.
See if local CIL funding is available for your community organisation.
Dartford's CIL guidance for developers and landowners
For help with CIL legal requirements for your developments (including: how and when to pay the correct amount, exemptions, national forms to complete, and CIL rates) see Dartford’s CIL guidance for developers. This page includes the local CIL current charging rates.