Community Infrastructure Levy draft charging schedule consultation

Feedback updated 28 Oct 2026

We asked

We asked for your views on the proposed draft charging schedule for the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) that, if adopted, would apply to new development in the North and Central areas of Buckinghamshire (the former Aylesbury Vale district).

Please see the ‘overview’ section further down this page for more information on what a CIL is and how it works.

We also asked your views on the evidence that was provided to support the draft charging schedule. The documentation that was made available for the consultation can be found in the 'related documents and links’ section further down this page.

The consultation ran from 14 April to 24 May 2026.

You said

There were 53 responses to the consultation. 35 were made through Your Voice Bucks and 18 by email.

Views on both the draft charging schedule and supporting evidence were mixed. While there was general support for introducing a CIL, there were differing opinions on the proposed rates, charging zones and evidence base. Some respondents felt the evidence relied on outdated local plan information and that introducing a CIL ahead of the new Buckinghamshire Local Plan was premature. Others questioned aspects of the viability evidence and its assumptions.

Respondents also expressed contrasting views on the proposed rates, with some suggesting they should be higher to secure greater infrastructure funding, while others considered they could affect development viability and housing delivery. Concerns were also raised about the exemption of strategic sites, the complexity of the charging zones and a number of practical aspects of the draft charging schedule and instalment policy.

Some comments were outside the scope of the consultation or expressed views on technical issues without supporting evidence. See a summary of representations received in the consultation.

We did

The CIL proposals that had been consulted upon, together with the views received, then went before the Growth, Infrastructure & Housing Select Committee on 23 September 2026 where committee members discussed concerns and issues for consideration.

Cabinet considered the representations received and the Select Committee recommendations, along with a modified draft schedule on 14 October 2026. Cabinet made the decision to submit the modified draft charging schedule to the independent examiner.

The modified charging schedule was considered to strike an appropriate balance between additional investment in infrastructure to support development and the potential effect on the economic viability of development. The following changes were made:

Clarification of some language used regarding development comprising solely of flats.

Introduction of nil rates for limited classes of development (agricultural development and domestic development that does not create a new dwelling).

The threshold above which strategic sites are nil rated for CIL is proposed to be increased from 400 homes to 650. This is considered to better reflect actual cost thresholds for large developments.

An independent examiner has now been appointed as the next step in the process of introducing the CIL.

The notice period for requests to be heard at the public hearing regarding the statement of modifications runs from 28 October to 24 November 2026. Find out more on our CIL next steps page.

Overview

We want to hear your views on the proposed draft charging schedule for the Community Infrastructure Levy that would apply to new development in the North and Central areas of Buckinghamshire (the former Aylesbury Vale district).

We'd also like to hear your views on the evidence that supports the charging schedule.

A Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a fixed charge levied on new development (including all new dwellings) calculated per square metre of gross internal area in accordance with national regulations and the local CIL charging schedule.

CIL is not chargeable on new development that does not create a new dwelling if less than 100 square metres of new floorspace is created.

The draft Charging Schedule sets out the proposed CIL rates for different types of development in different areas.

It is an important source of developer contributions for a local authority to fund the provision, improvement, replacement, operation or maintenance of infrastructure that supports the development of its area.

A proportion of CIL receipts is passed to Town and Parish Councils, (15% rising to 25% where a Neighbourhood Plan is in place). These must be spent on infrastructure or on other measures that address the demands that development places on the local area.

Existing CIL charging schedules are already in place for the West, East and South areas of Buckinghamshire. These will continue to apply and are not within the scope of this consultation. Adopting a Charging Schedule for the North and Central areas would mean that a CIL Charging Schedule is in place for all areas of Buckinghamshire.

What we've done so far What we've done so far

On 11 July 2023, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet agreed that work be undertaken to consider how CIL could be introduced in the north and central planning areas. Subject to a technical assessment, this could be by way of a single charging schedule applying to Buckinghamshire or to the North and Central areas only.

Consultants Dixon Searle Partnership (DSP) were commissioned to undertake a two-stage study. In the first stage, DSP examined the pros and cons of a new county-wide charging schedule compared to a new charging schedule that would apply to the North and Central areas only.

July 2024 Cabinet approved further work to develop a new CIL charging schedule in the North and Central planning areas, and granted authority to the Director for Planning and Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration and s151 officer to carry out public consultation on a CIL charging schedule and associated CIL policies.

This further work has resulted in a draft charging schedule underpinned by an appropriate evidence base relating to the viability of developments and the need for infrastructure funding.

How to have your say

You can tell us your views in one of the following ways:

the preferred method is to complete the online survey using the link at the end of the page.

Alternatively you can:

complete, and return, a printed version of the survey (PDF, 383KB)
email us at CILNorthConsultation@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
write to us at Buckinghamshire Council, (FAO Infrastructure Funding Team, CIL North Consultation), Walton Street,
Aylesbury HP20 1UA

If you have any questions about this activity, or require this information in another format or language, please email us at CILNorthConsultation@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Please tell us your views by 11:59pm on 24 May 2026.

What happens next

Once the consultation is complete, the results will be carefully considered to see whether any modifications should be made to the charging schedule before a final version is put before the council’s Cabinet who will then decide whether to put the Charging Schedule forward for independent public examination.

Privacy

We will use the information you provide here only for this activity. We will store the information securely in line with data protection laws and will not share or publish any personal details. Survey responses will be analysed using Microsoft products including Copilot, Excel and Word. For more information about data and privacy, please see our Privacy Policy.

If you have questions about data and privacy, please email us on dataprotection@buckinghamshire.gov.uk or write to our Data Protection Officer at Buckinghamshire Council, The Gateway, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8FF.

Areas

Aylesbury Community Board
East Bucks Community Board
North Bucks Community Board
West Bucks Community Board

Interests

Planning