Richmond Council has objected to government plans to let developers claim up to 80 per cent relief from the Community Infrastructure Levy — the money builders pay towards the roads, parks and public spaces that new homes lean on. The council says the change would leave it with far less to invest, at a point when it is also absorbing a near-60 per cent cut to its core government funding, the biggest percentage reduction of any London borough.
Its counter-offer is narrower: relief capped at 60 per cent, the qualifying threshold doubled to £1m so fewer schemes get the discount, and the full discount reserved for schemes with at least 35 per cent affordable housing at social rent. Council leader Gareth Roberts says the levy money is already committed to projects.
In Barnes that levy pays for the sort of small work residents notice — crossings, playgrounds, the Green and the towpath. Asking councils to build more while removing the money that makes building bearable is the wrong way round, and the question is whether ministers accept the argument or a council with the deepest funding cut in London gets told to absorb this one too.
- Richmond Council warns government plans to give developers up to 80 per cent relief from the Community Infrastructure Levy could leave the borough with significantly less money to invest in infrastructure supporting new development.
- Richmond faces a nearly 60 per cent cut to its core government funding, the biggest percentage reduction of any London borough.
- The Community Infrastructure Levy is money paid by developers towards the infrastructure needed to support new development.
- The council wants the relief threshold raised from £500,000 to £1 million and the maximum relief cut from 80 per cent to 60 per cent.
- The council argues the highest level of relief should be reserved for developments providing at least 35 per cent affordable housing at social rent.
Every factual claim in this story is linked to the evidence behind it. Where the newsroom has added judgement or framing, it is listed separately. Sources accessed 26 September 2026.
- www.richmond.gov.uk/news/news_september_2026/government_urged_to_protect_investm (council_statement)
Claim by claim (6 facts, 2 editorial judgements)
- Richmond Council warns government plans to give developers up to 80 per cent relief from the Community Infrastructure Levy could leave the borough with significantly less money to invest in infrastructure supporting new development. — council_statement, 2026-09-24“Richmond Council is warning government plans to give developers up to 80 per cent relief from the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) could leave the borough with significantly less money to invest in”
- Richmond faces a nearly 60 per cent cut to its core government funding, the biggest percentage reduction of any London borough. — council_statement, 2026-09-24“while Richmond faces a nearly 60 per cent cut to its core Government funding – the biggest percentage reduction of any London borough – putting unprecedented pressure on the Council's finances.”
- The Community Infrastructure Levy is money paid by developers towards the infrastructure needed to support new development. — council_statement, 2026-09-24“The Community Infrastructure Levy is money paid by developers towards the infrastructure needed to support new development.”
- The council wants the relief threshold raised from £500,000 to £1 million and the maximum relief cut from 80 per cent to 60 per cent. — council_statement, 2026-09-24“It wants the threshold for relief increased from £500,000 to £1 million, reducing the number of developments that qualify, and the maximum relief cut from 80 per cent to 60 per cent.”
- The council argues the highest level of relief should be reserved for developments providing at least 35 per cent affordable housing at social rent. — council_statement, 2026-09-24“the highest level of relief should be reserved only for developments providing at least 35 per cent affordable housing at social rent”
- Council leader Gareth Roberts says the borough's levy funding is already committed and being brought forward for local infrastructure projects. — council_statement, 2026-09-24“The reality is Richmond's CIL funding is already committed and being brought forward for investment in local infrastructure projects.”
- Judgement: Asking councils to deliver more homes while cutting the funding stream that pays for supporting infrastructure is the wrong way round.
- Judgement: In Barnes the levy is the money behind small visible works such as crossings, playgrounds and towpath and Green improvements.
