The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allows Peterborough City Council to raise funds, from certain forms of new development to help fund the infrastructure needed to mitigate the impacts of new development. Regulations govern how CIL funding is spent, namely the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure and anything else that is concerned with addressing the demands that development places the local area. The definition of infrastructure is broad and includes roads and other transport infrastructure, schools and other educational facilities, medical facilities, sporting and recreational facilities and open spaces.
Further information about CIL funding can be found at: www.gov.uk/guidance/community-infrastructure-levy and www.peterborough.gov.uk/council/planning-and-development
PETERBOROUGH CITY COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY
In April 2015, the Council adopted a CIL Charging Schedule to raise funds from new development for the purpose of delivering infrastructure and existing governance arrangements for managing CIL receipts were adopted in November 2016. The CIL Regulations allow up to 5% of funds collected to be allocated to pay for the administration of CIL. The Strategic Portion (up to 80%) is spent on infrastructure needed to support the development of the area. The Community Portion (15% or 25%) is allocated as follows:
– In a parished area, 15% of CIL receipts received from development in a are transferred to the Parish Council to spend on local infrastructure priorities. This proportion of CIL receipts rises to 25% where there is a ‘made’ Neighbourhood Plan.
– In a non-parished area the CIL funds are held by Peterborough City Council to liaise with communities to agree how these funds are allocated and to manage the spend process.
In June 2025 Peterborough City Council Cabinet approved a report which included a revised process for managing the Neighbourhood Portion of CIL for non-parished areas to improve access to these funds for community supported projects. This included the following: The existing governance arrangements are silent on a process for allocating funds to non parished areas with an adopted Neighbourhood Plan. The revised governance arrangements propose that where a Neighbourhood Council or forum has adopted a Neighbourhood Plan, 25% of CIL receipts from developments in the designated neighbourhood plan area will be transferred to the Neighbourhood Area Forum. The CIL receipts will be transferred to the appropriate Neighbourhood Area Forum twice a year unless there is a specific agreement in place for alternative arrangements.
CIL funding for development within the Werrington Neighbourhood Plan area will therefore be transferred to Werrington Neighbourhood Council twice a year at the end of October and April each year to enable them to support projects in that area which fulfil the CIL criteria,
FUNDING APPLICATIONS TO WERRINGTON NEIGHBOURHOOD COUNCIL
Potential projects from within the Werrington Neighbourhood Plan area will be identified from three sources: from suggestions from its members and Ward Councillors, from suggestion from residents (see below) and from non-profit organisations (see below). Werrington Neighbourhood Council will announce in Spotlight magazine when CIL funding has been received and will invite suggestions from residents and applications from not-for-profit organisations based within Werrington (such as infrastructure providers, schools, community groups and registered charities). Suggestions made by residents need to be projects which fulfil the criteria outlined below and can be delivered in partnership with Peterborough City Council or similar agency. The Neighbourhood Council will not lead projects themselves except in exceptional circumstances.
Applications by organisations must be able to demonstrate a wider community benefit. Given that CIL is public funding, any new or improved facilities should be accessible to a range of people within the community. If an external organisation has been granted CIL funds for a project, it may not apply for further CIL funding, regardless of the project, until twelve months have elapsed since the previous award was granted. The following are examples of what cannot be covered by this funding:
- Projects that have been started or completed prior to an application being submitted.
- Ongoing revenue costs for a project
- Annual maintenance or repair
- Projects promoting a political party.
- Projects that conflict with existing Neighbourhood Council policies and projects
- Recoverable VAT.
- Any projects are better funded through other funding sources.
In addition to showing how the project meets the Government criteria for CIL spend, the project should also evidence following:
- Addressing impacts created by new development.
- Wider community benefit: beyond just the benefits to the organisation submitting the application.
- Deliverability: a clear delivery plan in place
- Evidence of additional resources (people or money) available from partners to complement funding.
- are sufficiently advanced that they will be able to provide all necessary business and financial support for the project;
- have their organisational approval in place; and
- are ready to commence if CIL funding is secured with the project completed within 12 months.
Applications should also include competitive quotations, job specification, proof of ownership and details of alternative funding options. Applications with this supporting information should be emailed to: werringtonnc@gmail.com.
Werrington Neighbourhood Council will confirm receipt of any application. Further information may be requested. Applications will be considered first by the CIL Project team who will then submit a recommendation to the appropriate Full Meeting of Werrington Neighbourhood Council. With the limited funding and strict criteria, not all applications will be funded. There is no right to appeal against the decision. Should a project be refused this does not prevent the applicant from applying in the future or for a different project.
SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS
After approval of an application by a Full Council Meeting, the Applicant will be notified that the application has been approved. The applicant must have a bank account in the name of their organisation into which the Council will pay the funding. Successful projects must be able to deliver within the twelve months following the Neighbourhood Council decision. Where relevant, the CIL funding will be conditional upon the applicant obtaining any building regulations and/or planning permission and any other consents or permissions as may be required. Funds will normally be paid when the project is complete and an invoice is received. The Neighbourhood Council will seek confirmation that the project has been completed as per the application and to its satisfaction. The CIL funding is a one-off payment and will not result in any future revenue commitment. Any maintenance responsibility, revenue liability or ongoing future funding related to the application lies with the Applicant.
The Applicant will need to agree to publicise the support of CIL Funding allocated by Werrington Neighbourhood Council. The Neighbourhood Council reserves the right to also publicise the project and to use images of the project as part of any publicity material that it may wish.
In addition, there may be the opportunity for the Neighbourhood Council to work in partnership with Peterborough City Council or another agency on the improvement of infrastructure and their property in order to finance projects which would not be funded in another way.
- MONITORING
Werrington Neighbourhood Council CIL Project team will closely monitor the CIL money and process as follows:
- Liaise with successful projects to ensure a timely completion of the projects
- Report to the Neighbourhood Council about the progress and completion of the projects
- Submit the requested annual return to Peterborough City Council and publish this return on both the Neighbourhood Council website and at the Annual General Meeting.
