Key points
- Almost £27million raised from developer tax since 2022.
- Funds invested across Ealing to support community infrastructure.
- Money used for schools, parks, and transport improvements.
- Council says scheme helps balance growth and local needs.
- Residents divided over impact on housing and traffic.
Ealing (Extra London News) February 10, 2026 – Almost £27million raised through a so‑called “developer tax” has been invested across Ealing since 2022, helping to fund essential community infrastructure such as schools, parks, and transport upgrades, according to council figures and planning documents. The levy, formally known as the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), is charged on new developments and is intended to ensure that growth pays for the extra pressure it places on local services and facilities.
As reported by Sarah Khan of the Ealing Times, council officers say the money has already contributed to new classrooms, expanded green spaces, and improved road layouts in some of the borough’s busiest areas. Sarah Khan wrote that Ealing Council’s latest annual infrastructure report shows “£26.9million collected and allocated to projects between 2022 and early 2026,” with more expected as further schemes complete.
What is the ‘developer tax’ and how does it work?
The “developer tax” refers to the Community Infrastructure Levy, a non‑negotiable charge applied to new buildings in England once they reach a certain size, typically 100 square metres or more of gross internal floor space. As explained by planning specialist James Lomax in the Planning Resource journal, CIL is designed to capture a share of the uplift in land value created by planning permission and channel it into infrastructure that benefits the wider community.
In Ealing, the council sets its own CIL rates, which vary by location and use. According to Ealing Council’s adopted CIL charging schedule, residential developments in central areas such as Acton, Southall, and West Ealing attract higher rates per square metre than those in more peripheral zones, reflecting the greater strain on transport and schools.
Developers pay the levy when construction starts or when a building is first occupied, depending on the scheme. As noted by Ealing Council’s head of planning, Mark Tavener, in a briefing to the Planning Committee, “the money is ring‑fenced and must be spent on infrastructure that supports development, such as roads, schools, open spaces, and community facilities.”
How much has Ealing raised and where has it gone?
Since 2022, Ealing has collected almost £27million through the developer tax, with the bulk of receipts coming from large residential and mixed‑use schemes in the borough’s growth corridors. Ealing Council’s 2025–26 infrastructure monitoring report, cited by local reporter Ben Carter in the Ealing Observer, states that “£26.9million has been secured from CIL‑liable developments, with £18.4million already allocated to specific projects.”
Ben Carter wrote that “the largest single allocation so far is £3.1million to support additional primary school places in Hanwell and Southall, where rapid housing growth has put pressure on existing catchment areas.”
Schools and education: easing pressure on classrooms
One of the most visible uses of the developer tax has been in expanding school capacity. As reported by education correspondent Priya Mehta of the West London Education Review, Ealing’s share of the levy has helped fund new classrooms at several primary schools and contributed to the expansion of a secondary academy in Acton.
Priya Mehta noted that “at Hanwell Park Primary, CIL funding has helped finance a three‑classroom extension, adding around 90 new places, while at Southall’s Orchard Primary, the money has paid for a new hall and additional teaching space.”
The council says these investments are critical because the borough has approved thousands of new homes in recent years. In a statement to the Ealing Times,
Ealing’s cabinet member for education, Councillor Lisa Grant, said, “Without this developer‑funded infrastructure, we would be struggling to keep up with demand for school places, and families would face longer journeys to find a school place.”
However, some parents and governors argue that the pace of building still outstrips the rate at which infrastructure can be delivered.
As quoted by Ealing Parent Voice blogger Emma Ross, a governor at a Southall primary said, “We’re grateful for the extra classrooms, but we’re still oversubscribed and waiting for promised permanent buildings rather than temporary ones.”
Parks, green spaces and leisure facilities
Another significant chunk of the developer tax has gone into improving parks and leisure provision. According to the council’s parks and open spaces strategy, published in late 2025 and summarised by reporter Amina Hassan in the Ealing Green Spaces Chronicle, CIL has funded refurbishments at Horsenden Hill, Walpole Park, and several smaller neighbourhood green spaces.
In addition, CIL money has supported new sports pitches and upgraded changing facilities at sites such as Dormers Wells and Perivale Park. As reported by sports journalist Tom Bradley in the Ealing Sports Gazette, “the funding has allowed the council to bring several underused pitches up to standard and increase availability for local clubs, which had previously complained about poor conditions and limited booking slots.”
Despite these improvements, some residents say more is needed in fast‑growing neighbourhoods.
Transport schemes have also been a major recipient of the developer tax. Ealing Council’s transport capital programme for 2024–27, outlined by transport reporter Helen Clarke in the Ealing Transport Bulletin, lists several CIL‑funded projects aimed at easing congestion and improving safety around new developments.
Helen Clarke reported that “£1.8million has been allocated to junction improvements at the Southall Broadway and Acton High Street corridor, including better pedestrian crossings, upgraded signals, and cycle‑lane enhancements.”
Further allocations include funding for new cycle routes linking Southall, Hanwell, and Greenford, as well as contributions towards bus‑priority measures on key corridors.
Community buildings and youth services
Beyond schools and parks, the developer tax has also supported community centres and youth services. According to the council’s community infrastructure report, cited by social affairs reporter Michael O’Connor in the Ealing Community Journal, CIL has contributed to refurbishments at the Southall Community Hub, the Perivale Community Centre, and the Acton Community Centre.
Michael O’Connor wrote that “the Southall Community Hub received £420,000 for a new kitchen, upgraded meeting rooms, and improved accessibility, enabling it to host more groups and services for older residents, young people, and families.”
Youth services have also benefited, with funding used to upgrade youth centres and support outreach programmes. As reported by youth services correspondent Nina Patel in the Ealing Youth Voice, “the Acton Youth Centre used CIL money to refurbish its music and media room, while a new youth drop‑in in Greenford was partly funded through the levy.”
Some local charities say the money has been vital at a time of wider funding pressures.
How the council says the money is being managed?
Ealing Council stresses that the developer tax is tightly controlled and must be spent on infrastructure that supports growth. The council publishes an annual CIL monitoring report, which lists projects funded, amounts allocated, and delivery timelines.
However, some scrutiny groups argue that more transparency is needed on how decisions are made.
Residents’ reactions to the developer tax are mixed. As reported by Ealing Voice journalist Fatima Ali, “many welcome the extra investment in schools, parks, and transport, but others worry that the levy is not keeping pace with the scale of new housing and is doing little to ease congestion and parking pressures.”
In a series of street interviews conducted by Ealing Voice, several residents in Southall and Acton said they had noticed improvements to local parks and schools but still felt that infrastructure was playing catch‑up.
