You’ve discharged all of the pre-commencement conditions of your planning consent, your building regulation drawings have been approved and you are finally ready to start your build, but have you ensured you have all the necessary paperwork in place before you begin on site? From arranging site insurance, to completing a Community Infrastructure Levy exemption form, there are some key things every self-builder needs to check off their list before beginning making a start.
THE COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a charge applied by around two-thirds of local authorities in England and Wales on new development, including new homes, to help fund local infrastructure projects such as roads, schools and healthcare. The CIL liability on the average-sized self-build measuring 247m ² could be an eye-watering £23,465, but fortunately self-builders are exempt from CIL, as long as they comply with the rules. There is no appeals process for failing to comply with the regulations and many self-builders have had to pay charges or a fine for non compliance, so read the small print to avoid a very expensive error.
To find out if your local authority charges CIL or is planning to, visit the planning pages on its website or phone to ask for details of its CIL schedule/draft schedule. The Community Infrastructure Levy cannot be charged retrospectively, so if it applies to your project you, or the agent who submitted the planning application on your behalf, will have been notified in writing at the time planning permission was granted.
You (or your agent with your approval) must complete:
● Assumption of Liability Form (CIL Form 2)● A Self-build Exemption Form Part 1 (Form 7)● A Commencement Notice (CIL Form 6)● Self-build Exemption Form Part 2 (CIL Form 7).
