Infrastructure spending and funding
Infrastructure spending- Bidding for CIL funding
On the 5th March 2026 we took an Infrastructure Funding Enhancement Report to Cabinet - Cabinet - Thursday 5th March 2026 - 214. Infrastructure Funding - Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Project. CIL bid submissions will reopen once we’ve completed the update to our processes, with bids being considered within October-December 2026. 2026.
The Enhancement Programme is expected to implement:
- An extended bidding period to allow bids to be submitted year-round. Bids to be considered in the third financial quarter (October-December) and officer recommendations on funding to be considered by Cabinet and published at the beginning of the fourth financial quarter (January).
- Create a validation checklist for CIL bids to be registered, ensuring a minimum standard of information, evidence and due diligence is provided up-front.
- Develop and implement a detailed scoring matrix for bids, to ensure an appropriate balance of projects can be funded. This balance is to focus on meeting the needs of our residents by prioritising infrastructure which is: - Identified as ‘critical’ and ‘essential’ in our Infrastructure Delivery Plan as part of the Development Plan, - Responds to the climate and ecological emergency; and, - Supports healthy and sustainable communities.
- Introduce a minimum score for bids and disqualification criteria.
- Set standards for the quorum and constitution of the officer panel.
- Create a communications and engagement strategy for the process, increasing awareness of the bidding opportunity, process and outcomes. Each year, between 1 March and 31 May, the Council invites infrastructure providers to bid for CIL funds.
The Council has split the available CIL funds into two funding pots:
- 10% is set aside for infrastructure projects that help deliver actions related to the Council’s Climate and Ecological Emergencies
- 90% is put into a Strategic Fund aimed at delivering essential and critical infrastructure identified in Cotswold District Council’s adopted Local Plan
If you have any queries, please contact [email protected]
These documents will be updated as part of the programme but may be of interest for organisations intending to submit bids in 2026
CIL Expression of Interest Form 2024 - docx - 870 Kb
CIL Expression of Interest Guidance Notes 2024 - pdf - 350 Kb
Note that bids for CIL funds runs alongside a call for bids for funds from the Council’s Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspaces Fund. These funds have a separate expression of interest form but follow a similar procedure for bidding. More information can be found on the Council’s Habitats Regulations Assessment page.
Infrastructure reporting
The Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) is an annual report which provides a summary of all financial and non-financial developer contributions relating to Section 106 Legal Agreements (S106) and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) collected and spent by Cotswold District Council.
Infrastructure funding
The Council collects funding for Infrastructure, mainly via the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) or via obligations in Section 106 legal agreements (S106).
The money collected by CIL is divided into three areas:
- Strategic Fund
- Neighbourhood Contribution (transferred to Parish or Town Council) 15% standard or 25% if a neighbourhood development plan is in place
- Administrative costs 5%
The Strategic Fund needs to deliver infrastructure that supports development in the district. Our Infrastructure Delivery Plan has identified infrastructure projects that are required to deliver development up to 2031. These have been included in the Local Plan policies SA1, SA2 and SA3.
The Infrastructure List, which can be found in the Infrastructure Funding Statement above sets out the CIL spending priorities of the Council.
The Council will still seek S106 contributions for major schemes, affordable housing, public open space and for site specific measures. But only if they are required to make the development acceptable in planning terms.
Town and Parish Council reporting
Town and Parish Councils are also required to produce an annual report on the CIL monies they have received and spent. The following local councils have provided the District Council with their CIL return. If your local council is not on the list, it means they do currently not hold any CIL funds or they have not provided the District Council with a copy of their report. You can find a list of all local authorities who have received funds in the Infrastructure Funding Statements at the top of this page.
The Council has also produce a guidance document for town and parish councils: