The Economy and Sustainability Scrutiny Panel was scheduled to discuss the implementation of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and the council's Local Plan. The panel was also set to review the draft work programme for the panel and receive an update on housing development and regeneration.

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

The panel was scheduled to consider the implementation of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), a charge levied on new development to fund infrastructure. The report pack indicated that Ealing was one of the last London boroughs to adopt CIL, which would replace Section 106 contributions to a significant extent. CIL would be collected by Ealing Council for both the Mayor's CIL (MCIL) and Ealing CIL (ECIL).

Two charging zones were proposed for residential development: Central Ealing, with a charge of £300 per square metre, and the rest of the borough, with a charge of £150 per square metre. These rates were informed by viability testing undertaken by BNP Paribas. The report pack detailed exemptions and reliefs from CIL, including for affordable housing, residential annexes, and self-build homes.

The CIL receipts were planned to be split into three parts: Strategic CIL (80%), Neighbourhood CIL (NCIL) (15%), and the CIL Admin Fund (up to 5%). Strategic CIL could be spent on physical infrastructure, while NCIL offered greater flexibility for services, events, and staffing. The Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) was identified as the key policy document for infrastructure planning.

The report pack also included insights from Marilyn Smith, Head of Planning and Assurance at Barking & Dagenham Council, who outlined her borough's experience in managing CIL and Section 106 funding since 2015. Barking & Dagenham had refined its governance processes, moving from officer-led decisions to an open bidding process and later to a more controlled and phased system involving regular meetings with infrastructure partners.

The proposed implementation date for Ealing's CIL was 1 March 2026, with the charging schedule to be taken to Full Council for approval. It was anticipated that CIL would not significantly impact development viability or affordable housing delivery, as it was generally a small proportion of total development costs and often absorbed through reduced land value.

The panel was scheduled to consider recommendations for CIL, including allocating funding to deprived areas, implementing transparent reporting, engaging directly with residents, developing long-term spending plans, publicising CIL processes, and adding a dedicated section to the Council Plan for CIL rate setting.

Local Plan

The panel was also scheduled to discuss the council's Local Plan, a key document guiding development from 2024 to 2039. The plan's vision focused on climate action, tackling inequality, creating good jobs, delivering affordable housing, and establishing cleaner, greener 20-minute neighbourhoods.

The Local Plan was progressing through statutory stages and was at the examination phase following its submission in November 2024. Public hearings were scheduled for June and December 2025. Inspectors were testing the Plan's legal compliance and soundness, with the council preparing responses on key issues such as housing supply, infrastructure, and cross-borough cooperation.

The report pack highlighted that Local Plans could become outdated by the time of adoption, and a review would commence immediately after adoption. It also noted government reforms aimed at streamlining plan-making and introducing stronger strategic planning. Ealing, like other boroughs, faced challenges with falling housing completions and the need to address housing land supply, Gypsy and Traveller provision, tall buildings, climate policies, and site allocations.

The upcoming London Plan was expected to be shorter, with more detailed development management policy moving to national policy, allowing the London Plan to focus on core challenges, growth opportunities, and strategic infrastructure. Ealing's housing target was noted to be significantly higher than its average delivery rate, with further increases anticipated.

To address housing delivery challenges, the Local Plan was aligned with other council strategies, including the Housing Strategy, Housing Action Plan, and Housing Delivery Plan. The report pack indicated that the wider housing market was struggling, with developers hesitant to bring schemes forward due to low demand, rising costs, and financial constraints. Ealing was prioritising rental and build-to-rent products and had been purchasing homes from private developers to maintain construction and secure affordable rented homes.

The panel was scheduled to consider recommendations for the Local Plan, including aligning it with the electoral cycle, working with the Government to improve the inspection process and reduce administrative burden, collaborating with the Government to support developers in delivering homes that meet actual demand, and ensuring the Local Plan is responsive to the economic climate, market conditions, and available resources.

Panel Operations and Housing Development and Regeneration

The panel was also scheduled to review its draft work programme for 2025-2026, which outlines the topics of enquiry for the year. Additionally, a report on Housing Development and Regeneration was to be presented, providing an update on the production of an Affordable Homes Investment Plan and its influence on a forthcoming bid to the Greater London Authority (GLA) for the London Social and Affordable Homes Programme. The report also detailed an updated Development Guide, setting out the council's ambitions for planning, designing, and delivering new homes and neighbourhoods on council land.

The Affordable Homes Investment Plan 2025-2040 aims to set out how the council can effectively work with partners to achieve new homes delivery targets, ensuring the right mix and quality of homes. The plan examines how its recommendations align with the financial capacity of the council's Housing Revenue Account and risk appetite. Initial findings indicated the potential to deliver 3,452 new homes on council land, with almost 2,000 being affordable homes over a 15-year programme.

The London Social and Affordable Homes Programme (LSAHP) 2026–2036 is a government-backed funding programme designed to support the building of new affordable homes. Ealing Council's ambitions for this programme include curating a bid to deliver a portfolio of sites over the next 10 years. The bidding process was expected to open in February 2026 and close in April 2026.

The Ealing Development Guide 2026 aims to provide a clear commissioning framework for the planning, design, and delivery of new housing led by Ealing council or delivered on council-owned land. It replaces the Broadway Living Development Guide 2021 and reflects changes in construction costs, regulation, the climate emergency, and housing need. The guide is structured around four themes: sustainable homes and neighbourhoods, healthy places to live, homes for everyone, and design and construction quality.