Families across England are being hit with life-changing Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) charges — even when they legally qualify for exemption.

These are not property developers or speculators. They’re ordinary people building or extending family homes — who, due to minor paperwork errors or unclear council processes, are being charged tens of thousands of pounds.

Many face financial ruin, legal threats, or the forced sale of their homes.

I was one of them. West Berkshire Council wrongly charged me a huge CIL fee despite my exemption status. Only after 9 years of campaigning — and with the support of the new Council Leader — was I refunded.

But at least 50 others across 10+ councils are still trapped.
The total value of these unjust demands is now £1.5 million — and growing.

Like the Post Office scandal, this is a failure of government systems, not the people.

We call on:

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to urgently review the CIL appeals process.

Councils to stop enforcing payments where exemption clearly applies.

MPs to investigate this injustice and protect self-builders nationwide.

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