Community infrastructure levy (CIL)

The definition differs compared to how the term is used in the development management process. Under CIL legislation, development is treated as commencing on the earliest date on which a ‘material operation’ begins to be carried out on the relevant land. A ‘material operation’ has the same meaning as that given in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Therefore, for CIL, commencement is generally tied to physical implementation of the development, rather than administrative steps. This is important as it could impact whether a ‘Commencement Notice’ should be submitted, for example.