Following an independent review, Oxford City Council has published plans to increase the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) paid on all new Office and Research and Development buildings for the first time since the levy was introduced in 2013.
If approved by the Council's Cabinet, the rate for all planning applications approved after 15 August 2025 would increase from £33.74 to £172.28 per m2. Rates for all other uses will stay the same.
Based on evidence submitted during the review, it is estimated this could result in up to £30m for infrastructure in the city over the next few years.
CIL is a planning charge on new development to help the funding of infrastructure. The Council sets and collects the levy, coordinates the spending of the funds and reports this to the community.
Local authorities must spend the levy on infrastructure to support the local area.
External agency, Intelligent Plans and Examinations (IPE), completed the review earlier this year, recommending the increase go ahead. They found that the increase would not threaten the delivery of this type of development in Oxford or put economic growth and new jobs at risk.
There is more information about the different rates and uses on the Council’s website.
Comment
“Office and Research and Development schemes are a key part of the growth of Oxford’s economy. As well as providing jobs for Oxford people new developments need to contribute fairly to the infrastructure that supports the whole city.
“This increase would help ensure that a new development benefits people across Oxford by allowing more investment in the community facilities all of us rely on.”
Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning and Culture
Rate this page
