London planning permissions increased by 487% in March ahead of Mayoral levy deadline

The increase in permissions was likely to be due to the introduction of the Mayor of London's Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), which imposes a charge on new developments. The levy came into force on 1 April and does not have to be paid in relation to developments which received planning approval before that date.

A total of 88 planning permissions were granted in March, compared to a typical average of around 15 over the past four years. Within this, 64 permissions were granted in the final week of March.

In the five days to 30 March, the equivalent of four months' worth of section 106 agreements were signed for residential schemes of 20 or more units across Greater London, according Molior London. 

The Mayor's CIL Charging Schedule sets out levies to be charged on property developments in all London boroughs and will be charged on top of London boroughs' own CIL tariffs. The levy is intended to raise up £300 million towards London's Crossrail project
The boroughs are split into three groups according to viability and the ability of areas to accommodate additional development costs. In zone one, developments are charged at £50 per square metre, in zone two developments are charged at £35 per sq m, and in zone three developments are charged at £20 per sq.

For schemes that had planning permission approved, subject to the successful completion of a section 106 agreement, the agreements had to be signed and full planning permission granted before the implementation of the levy. 

Section 106 agreements are a way of delivering or addressing matters that are necessary to make a development acceptable in planning terms and are agreed to support the provision of services and infrastructure, such as highways, recreational facilities, education, health and affordable housing.