Politics
Camberwell Votes November: How New Development Levy Affects Housing Costs
The ballot measure would direct new development contributions toward local roads and housing, altering annual bills for Camberwell households.
How we reported this
The Camberwell Council placed a community infrastructure levy ballot measure on the November ballot. The measure would require developers of projects above ten units to pay a fixed contribution per square metre toward roads and affordable units in the SE5 area.
Council documents released in June show the levy applies only to new approvals after the vote. Residents in existing homes face no direct payment under the current draft text. The policy follows a 2025 review by the council planning department that identified shortfalls in local road repairs.
Daily costs for renters and owners
Households in Camberwell Green and Denmark Hill would see the levy reflected in future service charges if landlords pass on costs from new blocks. The legislation states payments must support 150 new affordable units over five years and resurfacing of 12 kilometres of local streets. Policy analysts note that similar levies in other London boroughs have added between 0.5 and 1 percent to average private rents within three years of introduction.
Local advocates note that current council tax bills already include a separate highways element of £87 per Band D property. The new levy would not replace that figure but would supplement it from developer sources rather than general taxation.
Next steps and timeline
Ballot papers will reach registered voters by 20 October. The council will publish a final guide by 1 September that lists exact rates per development size. If approved, the first payments from developers are projected to reach the council by March 2027 and begin appearing in completed projects from 2028 onward.