Edenbridge Town Council has joined three other town councils in calling on Sevenoaks District Council to reconsider proposed changes to the way contributions from new developments are collected and used to fund local infrastructure.
The response, submitted jointly by Edenbridge, Sevenoaks, Swanley and Westerham Town Councils, follows a consultation by Sevenoaks District Council on its draft Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule.
Joint response to CIL consultation 2026
What is changing?
CIL is a charge placed on certain new developments, with the money used to help provide infrastructure needed as communities grow. Sevenoaks District Council has operated CIL since 2014 and is reviewing the system alongside preparation of its new Local Plan, which looks ahead to 2042.
Under the District Council’s proposals, CIL would continue to apply to residential developments of between one and nine homes. However, developments of 10 or more homes, as well as non-residential development, would no longer pay CIL. Instead, their infrastructure requirements would be dealt with through individual Section 106 (S106) agreements negotiated as part of the planning process.
Sevenoaks District Council says the proposed approach would enable infrastructure such as schools, health facilities, transport improvements and community facilities to be secured more effectively for larger developments. The consultation ran from 6 August to 1 October 2026.
Town Council’s response
Edenbridge Town Council, together with the other three town councils, has objected to the proposed threshold of 10 homes.
A key concern is the effect the change could have on the proportion of development funding available directly to town and parish councils. The joint response says that, under CIL, a proportion of the levy is passed directly to the relevant local council, giving communities an identifiable source of funding for local infrastructure. By comparison, S106 contributions are negotiated for individual developments and do not provide the same direct funding mechanism for town and parish councils.
The councils point to projects already supported through CIL as evidence of its local value. In Edenbridge, CIL funding has contributed towards the medical centre, doctors’ equipment, improvements to community buildings and grants to local schools.
The joint response also raises concerns about how S106 money has been allocated or spent in previous cases. It argues that there should be much greater involvement for town and parish councils if the District Council moves towards greater reliance on S106 agreements, including consultation on significant contributions and local infrastructure priorities, and clearer information about how and when money is spent.
An alternative proposal
Rather than removing CIL from developments of 10 or more homes, the four town councils have suggested a different threshold.
Their proposal is for CIL to continue to apply to residential developments of up to 149 homes, as well as household applications, with developments of 150 homes or more potentially dealt with through S106 agreements instead. The councils say the figure reflects the existing 150-home delegated authority threshold and would allow CIL to continue supporting communities while giving the District Council greater flexibility for major developments.
The response also questions the timing of making substantial changes to the system in light of possible local government reorganisation and the prospect that infrastructure funding arrangements may have to be reviewed again as part of any transition to a new authority.
Edenbridge Town Council and its three partner councils have asked Sevenoaks District Council to reconsider the proposals and have said they would welcome further discussions on an infrastructure funding system that is transparent, accountable and ensures communities hosting new development continue to receive funding for local improvements.