The CIL was introduced through the Planning Act 2008, which gave LPAs the option to introduce a locally developed charging system. It was intended to make the system fairer, faster, and more certain and transparent. Payment by developers is generally up-front and non-negotiable, and LPAs may spend the monies on infrastructure across the local area, rather than being limited to a specific site. But there is lower take up in areas with lower land values, and it can be expensive and time-consuming to set up, creating a barrier to introduction. In November 2024, only 52% of authorities were operating the CIL.20