Shoosmiths has partnered with Hallam Land, a longstanding client and leading UK land promoter, and the Fabian Housing Centre, the Fabian Society's housing policy and research arm, to support new independent research into how Section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) can better support housing delivery, affordable housing and infrastructure provision across the UK..
Published: 11 September 2026
The project, Improving Section 106 and the Community Infrastructure Levy, will bring together policymakers, local authorities, housing experts, industry leaders and those directly affected by the housing crisis to examine how the current developer contributions system is working in practice and identify opportunities for improvement as the government seeks to deliver 1.5 million new homes.
The collaboration builds on the longstanding relationship between Shoosmiths and Hallam Land, which is led by Tom Hall, Partner and National Head of Strategic Land, and Sarah Fitzpatrick, Partner and National Head of Planning. Drawing on the expertise of Shoosmiths' nationally recognised Real Estate and Planning teams, the project conducted by the Fabian Housing Centre draws on legal, policy and industry insight to explore practical reforms to the developer contributions system.
Shoosmiths is sponsoring the independent report as part of its commitment to supporting evidence-based policy development and helping clients navigate the UK's evolving planning and housing landscape. As one of the UK's leading real estate and planning law firms, the firm advises on nationally significant regeneration, infrastructure, living and residential development projects.
The research will explore how planning contributions can provide greater certainty, improve efficiency and help ensure new development is supported by the infrastructure communities need. The sponsorship reflects Shoosmiths' wider focus on supporting responsible growth, regeneration and placemaking across the UK. By engaging with a range of key stakeholders, the project aims to help shape solutions that address housing need while fostering thriving, sustainable communities.
Insights from across the housing, planning and development sectors will inform a report to be published later this year. A stakeholder workshop was held at Shoosmiths' London office on 7 September 2026, ahead of a launch event on 3 November 2026 where the report's findings and recommendations will be discussed.
Tom Hall, Partner and Head of Sheffield Office at Shoosmiths, said:
"Section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy are central to the delivery of homes, affordable housing and infrastructure. Through our work with clients across the housing and development sectors, we see first-hand the opportunities and challenges they present.
We're delighted to be collaborating with our longstanding client Hallam Land and Fabian Housing Centre on this project. Bringing together perspectives from across government, local authorities and the planning industry creates an important opportunity to identify improvements that make the system more effective, predictable and transparent for everyone involved."
Iain MacSween, Managing Director at Hallam Land, said:
"Planning reform and housing targets are rightly central to the national conversation, but ambition only matters if it can be translated into homes on the ground. Section 106 and CIL are important parts of creating sustainable communities, helping to fund affordable housing, schools, transport improvements, open space and wider infrastructure. The challenge is ensuring those requirements are coordinated, proportionate and understood alongside the practical realities of delivery.
At Hallam Land, we understand that consent alone is not enough. Large strategic sites need patient investment, commercial confidence and early, transparent engagement between land promoters, local authorities, developers and infrastructure providers. This research is an opportunity to look carefully at how the contributions system is working in practice and to identify sensible reforms that maintain high standards while keeping deliverability at the centre."
The findings will be published later this year following engagement across the public and private sectors.