Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy

NCIL is the local element of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), which is collected by councils and the Mayor of London from new developments such as homes and commercial buildings. 

In Kingston, part of the CIL generated by each development is allocated to the Neighbourhood where the development takes place, helping to fund smaller-scale infrastructure projects that benefit the local area, including sustainable transport, green spaces, and community facilities. Find out more about the Community Infrastructure Levy here.

Unfortunately, the New and Old Malden and the South of the Borough neighbourhoods have not reached the threshold for this funding round, so projects located within these areas are not eligible to apply at this time. 

Funding is competitive, with multiple bids per neighbourhood typically received each round. Larger bids will be subject to additional scrutiny.

A wide variety of organisations can apply, such as residents' associations, community groups, charities, council departments and other public sector organisations, subject to eligibility.

Applicants should factor inflation and potential cost increases into their project budgets and include a reasonable contingency plan where possible, as any request for additional funding would require further committee approval.

The Royal Borough of Kingston operates an annual bidding process for the allocation of NCIL funds, which consists of a number of phases.

These include: 

1. Call for Bids and Submission of Expression of Interest (Now - 1 Nov 2026)

2. Expression of interest checks (Nov - Dec 2026)
   Expression of Interests reviewed based on the criteria and those able to proceed will then be asked to submit detailed project bid reports for their proposals.

3. Project Bid Report Submission (Jan - Feb 2027)
   During this period project managers will be expected to compile and submit their full project bid reports and supporting information. 

4. Draft NCIL Committee Report Circulated to Councillors (Mar 2027)
   The project bid reports will be circulated to the relevant Neighbourhood Councillors along with a draft covering report 

5. NCIL Neighbourhood Workshops held with Councillors (April 2027)
   Workshops will then be held with the Councillors and any questions/feedback on the reports will be relayed to the bidder.

6. NCIL Neighbourhood Workshop Feedback (May 2027)
   In this period Bidders will be given the opportunity to respond to any questions/feedback and provide and additional/information or clarifications where required. 

7. Committees held and decisions made (Jun - mid-Jul 2027)
   Final decisions on funding bids will be made at Neighbourhood Committees around June 2027 (the exact dates of these Committees have yet to be finalised at the time of writing).

8. Neighbourhood Agreements signed (where required) and funds released (Late Jul - Aug)
   At this point any successful bidders external to RBK will need to sign a simple agreement to ensure the funds are applied to the projects as set out in their reports. 

9. Management and monitoring (Aug 2027 onwards) 
   The Council will continue to monitor progress of approved projects, usually on a bi-annual basis. 

Please see the documents linked at the bottom of the page for further information relating to the bidding process schedule, including guidance for bidders. 

If you have consulted all the documentation below and still have any questions about the process, your project idea or the form then please email neighbourhood_management@kingston.gov.uk and cc in cil@kingston.gov.uk