UK Planning Law Blog

This Series has explored the common CIL risks for self-builders and the proposed amendments that should help to protect future self-builders from themselves. These changes are summarised in Part 3 of this series. 

Whilst the changes have addressed most of the potential future pitfalls with the self build exemption, they do not address or undo any previous injustice that has resulted in many self-builders incurring unexpected CIL in the tens of thousands. 

We do not accept the Government’s explanation that retrospective amendments to the Planning Act 2008 are not possible, we will continue to lobby for retrospective amendments to rectify the unfairness that has experienced by so many self-builders to date, as well as further amendments to:

1. introduce an appeals process against the refusal of SBE application and other reliefs;
2. the wording in regulation 54(C)(3) and/or the Self Build Part 2 Form (form 7) to make clear that the information or evidence that is to be submitted to verify the use of the home by the self builder is not limited to the three things listed on the form. Other types of evidence could satisfy the requirement and the requirement to ‘include the particulars specified or referred to in the form’ does not provide the Collecting Authority with a discretion to accept evidence beyond the three things listed on the form[1].

Watch this [blog]space.

[1] We are aware of a situation where a home was purpose built for a disabled child and due to the build being funded by the child’s trustees it was not possible for one of three supporting documents required under the Self Build Part 2 Form (form 7) to be supplied and this resulted in the SBE being withdrawn

The earlier blogs in this Series have explored the pitfalls in the CIL regulations in connection with the self-build exemption (SBE). 

After much lobbying the Government appears finally to have listened.  The Government’s response on the Developer Contributions consultation confirms that the proposed amendments to the CIL regulations (that were announced as part of the Government’s Developer Contributions reform consultation) will be taken forward to make the SBE process a little easier, fairer and more forgiving. 

The draft regulations (laid before the House of Commons to come into force on 1 September 2019) ensure the penalties that result from a self-builder failing to submit a commencement notice before starting development will be softened. Instead of losing the SBE entirely, the developer will only be required to pay a mandatory surcharge equal to the lesser of £2,500 or 20% of the CIL that would apply to the development if not for the exemption (i.e. the penalty is capped at £2,500)[1], and confirm that the SBE to be carried over to an amended permission (i.e. a s73 permission), even if the development has commenced under the original permission[2].

This will not apply to wholly new applications, so careful thought still needs to be given to the potential CIL consequences if a new application is made after works have commenced under the original permission.

In addition to the changes for self-builders, the proposed amendments will also help to correct many of the pitfalls that plague the other CIL exemptions including:

• the failure to give the commencement notice before starting development will no longer (from 1 September 2019 assuming the amendment regulations take effect) result in the loss of charitable relief or social housing relief exemption; and
• the failure to give the commencement notice before starting development will no longer result in the loss of the exemption for residential annexes and residential extensions (from 1 September 2019 assuming the amendment regulations take effect).

However, as for the self-build exemption, the failure to give the commencement notice in advance of starting development will for each of the abovementioned scenarios give rise to a mandatory surcharge of no more than £2,500 (although the draft amendment regulations do not explicitly refer to residential extensions being subject to this penalty).

Unfortunately, the proposed amendments are not to have retrospective effect, so will not address or undo any previous injustices.  Part 4 of this Series will address this and what more is needed.

[1] Regulation 6 of the Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2019

[2] Regulation 7 of Community Infrastructure Levy (Amendment) (England) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 proposes a new regulation 58ZA

Following on from Part 1 of the Self-Build series, the precarious position for future self-builders should be improved later this year, given the Government’s response to their Developer Contributions consultation.  However, the proposed amendments will only come into effect from 1 September 2019, arriving too late to fix the predicament of many existing self-builders.

Therefore, if works have started but deviated from what was originally approved and a s73 application or new application is made (instead of a s96a application) but not determined, to try to avoid a CIL liability under the new permission the self-build should consider and discuss one or more of the following options with the LPA:

Option 1 – Agree to extend the determination date for the s73 application until after 1 September 2019 when the proposed amendments have taken effect to allow a transfer of the self-build exemption. 

Option 2 – Agree that commencement under the original permission does not disqualify the new permission from the self-build exemption.

It is not uncommon for LPAs to claim that commencement under the original permission constitutes commencement for the purposes of the new permission and that this disqualifies the new permission from the self-build exemption.  Whether or not the LPAs position is legally correct depends on how far advanced the works are under the original permission, as there will need to be a material operation that could be undertaken as part of the new permission to implement it. If the LPA can be convinced that that works have not commenced for the purposes of the new permission and that they are still capable of granting the self-build exemption for it, the self-builder ought to (as soon as possible and before the new application is determined):

1. submit an application for the self-build exemption;
2. cease development under the original permission in advance of the new permission being granted, and not recommence development under the new permission until:
   • the self build exemption has been granted; and
   • a completed assumption of liability notice and commencement notice is submitted to the LPA for the new permission (noting a future commencement date);
3. document their development activities as clearly as possible (i.e. document/photograph when and where the works stopped on site, what works were the material operation under the new permission, obtain written statements from contractors, etc.) so this evidence can be provided to a LPA, if needed to corroborate their position. 

Option 3 – If the LPA will not agree that commencement under the original permission does not disqualify the new permission from the self-build exemption

1. write to the LPA to ask that the s73 application be determined as a s73A application, with the self-build exemption to be granted on the same day as the permission. If this is not agreed by the LPA or the application is not a s73 application, the application should be withdrawn and a new application submitted as a s73A application;
2. submit an application for the self-build exemption in advance of the application being granted permission; and
3. submit with the self-build exemption application a completed assumption of liability notice and commencement notice which states that the date of commencement is the date of the grant of the new permission and the self-build exemption.

All of the options carry large risk and require the cooperation/‘blessing’ of the LPA. Option 1 is the preferred approach as it carries the least risk and should be the easiest to secure LPA agreement to.

If a self-builder has made a new application and is unable to agree one of the above approaches with a LPA, quickly, it should consider withdrawing its application before it is granted and the potential CIL liability is crystallised. 

Given the Government’s response to the Developer Contributions consultation, it is unlikely that a LPA would seek to take enforcement action where a self-builder withdrew or delayed the making of their s73 application, on the understanding that the self-builder would submit a s73 application as soon as the proposed amendments to the CIL regulations take effect. 

The proposed changes to the CIL regulations do not relate to s73A applications. Therefore, it is critical that the LPA is comfortable that a s73 and not a s73A application can be used to correct works deviating on site from what was originally approved. This will be more of an issue for those s73 applications that are made late in the development process and there is very little work remaining. 

Part 3 and 4 of this Series will address the Government’s response to reforming developer contributions and the changes that will be made to the CIL regulations to help make the self-build exemption process a little easier, fairer and more forgiving in the future. 

Until at least 1 September 2019, self-builders need to remain alert to the risks outlined in Parts 1 and 2 of this Self-Build series.

We regularly get CIL self-build enquiries following our blog. Sadly, more often than not the request for advice comes after works have commenced (often without a commencement notice having been given) or a subsequent application has been made at the behest of local authorities (LPAs). 

Here are some common risks with the self-build exemption:

1. A self-build exemption does not, at present, transfer to a related application (i.e. a s73 application or a new application for substantially the same development). This means that:

a. a new application for the self-build exemption needs to also be made for the subsequent application. If works have not commenced under the original application then this is a straight-forward repeat of the same process for the original application (if not see 2 below);

b. the self-build exemption must be obtained and a commencement notice submitted in connection with the new permission before starting any work on the site.

If the above steps are not complied with strictly, the right to claim the self-build exemption in connection with the revised/new permission is likely to be lost forever and full CIL will be payable in connection with it.

2. Where works have started but deviated from what was originally approved, a LPA will often request that the self-builder submit a new application (s73 or new application) to regularise the works. It is critical that a self-builder does not follow the LPA’s request blindly and submit a new application (s73 or new application) without seeking legal advice first because:

a. a new application (s73 or new application) means a new permission and chargeable development, which carries new CIL consequences;

b. a new application (s73 or new application) is different to an amendment under s96a which simply amends the existing permission by, for example, the substitution of new plans. An application under s96a is the only safe route for regularising the works on site without jeopardising the existing self-build exemption.

If the change is not material and is only required to regularise the position, then the LPA should not resist a s96a application, especially after the self-build position is explained to them.  Even if the LPA will not accept the justification for a s96a application a self-builder should refuse to comply with their request until seeking legal advice to confirm it will not open them up to an unexpected CIL liability that could be in the tens of thousands.

Part 2 of this Series will consider some of the options that could be considered if the second scenario above arises and the LPA will not accept a s96a application.