News MBC inviting bids for Strategic CIL funding in September
Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is inviting local key infrastructure providers to bid for Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding.
Strategic CIL funds are intended to be spent on infrastructure necessary to support growth and development in the Maidstone area, focussing on the provision of new infrastructure. The levy can be used to fund a wide range of projects and can be used to increase the capacity or to fund repairs to existing infrastructure, if that is necessary to support development. This flexibility gives local areas the opportunity to choose what infrastructure they need to deliver their relevant Development Plan.
Providers who have an infrastructure project eligible for Strategic CIL and require additional funding are asked to submit a bid. This round of the bidding process will be open from Monday 1 September 2025 until Sunday 30 November 2025.
The Council has £5.4 million available in collected CIL receipts from developments across the borough to be spent on strategic infrastructure projects.
Cllr Tony Harwood, MBC Cabinet Member for Planning Policy & Enforcement, said:
Since the last round of Strategic CIL Funding, there have been fantastic projects that have come to life thanks to this support. I encourage all those organisations working on strategic infrastructure projects to submit a bid, especially those that will truly benefit our borough’s communities and environment, as well as helping to mitigate the impacts of major new development. If your project requires some additional financial support to make it a reality, please do prepare an application.
MBC is asking those who have an infrastructure project requiring additional funding to please take a look at the Strategic CIL Bidding Prospectus available on the website which will provide more information on project eligibility and how to submit a bid.
The deadline for Strategic CIL bid submissions is 30 November 2025. Applications can be made online by accessing the form.
Anyone who would like more information, including receiving the Strategic CIL Bidding Prospectus directly, application form assistance, or for any other questions, please contact: cilbids@maidstone.gov.uk
The Council publishes an Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) and Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) on an annual basis. These should be the starting point for seeing the types of schemes likely to be considered for funding, although the list is not exhaustive and bids from projects not currently in the IDP may still be considered. Submitting a bid does not guarantee allocation of CIL funds.
For more information on CIL please visit the Maidstone Borough Council website page: MBC Community Infrastructure Levy