CIL Rates in East Sussex

CIL rates in East Sussex

The Community Infrastructure Levy varies significantly across East Sussex. Wealden and Rother charge up to £200/m² in their higher-value zones, while Eastbourne charges £50/m² for houses and nothing for flats. Hastings has not adopted CIL at all. This guide sets out the base rates for every authority, explains indexation, and covers the exemptions most relevant to residential development.

How CIL works

The Community Infrastructure Levy was introduced by the Planning Act 2008 and is governed by the CIL Regulations 2010 (as amended). It is a per-square-metre charge on the net additional gross internal area created by new development. Each local planning authority sets its own rates through a charging schedule, which must be supported by viability evidence and approved by an independent examiner.

CIL applies to developments that create 100 m² or more of new build floor space, or that create one or more new dwellings regardless of floor area. Existing lawful floor space on the site (occupied for at least six months in the past three years) can be deducted from the chargeable area.

Base rates by authority

All rates shown are pre-indexation base rates as set in each authority's adopted charging schedule. The indexed rate for 2026 is higher — see the indexation section below.

Wealden District Council

Higher zone (Crowborough, Uckfield, Forest Row): £200/m²

Lower zone (Hailsham, Polegate, Pevensey): £150/m²

Adopted November 2015. Ic = 273.

Lewes District Council

Zone A (higher value): £150/m²

Zone B (lower value): £90/m²

Adopted October 2015. Ic = 273. Applies outside SDNPA boundary only.

Eastbourne Borough Council

Residential houses: £50/m²

Residential flats: £0 (nil rate — inspector confirmed unviable)

Adopted February 2015. Ic = 253.

Rother District Council

Zone 1 (Battle, rural north and west): £200/m²

Zone 2 (Rye, Hastings fringes, rural east): £135/m²

Zone 3a (Bexhill urban): £50/m²

Zone 3b (Bexhill rural): £170/m²

Adopted December 2015. Ic = 273.

Hastings Borough Council

No CIL adopted. All developer contributions are secured through Section 106 agreements on a site-by-site basis.

South Downs National Park Authority

Zone 1 (Lewes town, Liss, Midhurst, Petersfield, Petworth): £150/m²

Zone 2 (all other areas within the park): £200/m²

Adopted April 2017. Ic = 290. Applies to parts of Lewes and Wealden districts within the park boundary.

Indexation

CIL rates are index-linked annually. For permissions granted from 1 January 2020 onwards, the RICS CIL Index applies (replacing the BCIS All-In Tender Price Index used previously). The formula is straightforward: multiply the base rate by the current year's index, then divide by the index at the date the charging schedule was adopted.

Year	RICS CIL Index
2022	332
2023	360
2024	371
2025	382
2026	400

As an example, Wealden's higher zone base rate of £200/m² was set at an index of 273. With the 2026 index at 400, the indexed rate is £200 × (400 ÷ 273) = £293/m² approximately. The CIL Liability Calculator applies this indexation automatically.

Exemptions and relief

Several exemptions apply across all East Sussex authorities that charge CIL. The most common are self-build exemption (the applicant builds or commissions a house for their own occupation), social housing relief (affordable housing provided by a registered provider), and charitable relief (development by a charity for charitable purposes).

Exemption claims must be submitted and acknowledged before development commences. If you start on site before the exemption is confirmed, the full CIL liability becomes payable immediately with no right to claim the exemption retrospectively.

Local government reorganisation

A single East Sussex unitary council is expected to replace the five district and borough councils and the county council from April 2028. The current CIL charging schedules may be consolidated through that process. Until the new authority adopts a unified schedule, the existing rates remain in force. Check the relevant council website for the latest position before finalising any viability appraisal.

Frequently asked questions

Which East Sussex authorities have adopted CIL?

Wealden, Lewes, Eastbourne, and Rother have all adopted CIL charging schedules. Hastings Borough Council has not adopted CIL and relies entirely on Section 106 agreements for developer contributions. The South Downs National Park Authority has its own CIL schedule that applies to development within the park boundary, including parts of Lewes and Wealden districts.

How is CIL indexed in East Sussex?

CIL rates are index-linked annually to the RICS CIL Index (which replaced the BCIS All-In TPI for permissions granted from 2020 onwards). Each authority set its base rate at a specific index value (Ic) when its charging schedule was adopted. The formula is: indexed rate = base rate × (current index ÷ adoption index). For 2026, the RICS CIL Index is 400.

Can I claim self-build exemption from CIL in East Sussex?

Yes. Self-build exemption is available under the CIL Regulations 2010 (as amended) and applies across all authorities that charge CIL. You must submit a CIL Exemption Claim (Form 7A: Part 1) before commencing development and occupy the dwelling as your sole or main residence for at least three years. If you sell or rent the property within three years, the exemption is clawed back and the full CIL becomes payable.

Does CIL apply to extensions and annexes?

CIL applies to residential annexes and extensions that create 100 square metres or more of new gross internal area. Below that threshold, domestic extensions are exempt. However, if the extension creates a new dwelling (for example, by subdividing a house into flats), CIL applies regardless of floor area. The South Downs National Park Authority charges CIL on all residential development including extensions and annexes above the 100 m² threshold.

What happens if my site straddles the South Downs National Park boundary?

If part of a development site falls within the SDNPA boundary and part outside, the CIL rates of each authority apply to the floor space within their respective areas. The SDNPA is the charging authority for any floor space within the park boundary. The district council is the charging authority for floor space outside it. This can result in different CIL rates applying to different parts of the same scheme.

Is CIL payable in addition to Section 106 contributions?

Yes. CIL and Section 106 are separate mechanisms. CIL funds general infrastructure (schools, transport, community facilities). Section 106 secures site-specific obligations such as affordable housing, on-site open space, and direct highway works. Since April 2015, authorities cannot use S106 to fund the same type of infrastructure that CIL is intended to cover (the "pooling restriction"), but they can still require S106 for site-specific mitigation.