Waverley invests £2 million in better cancer care for local residents

The Liberal Democrat-led administration at Waverley Borough Council has approved major Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding applications to support improved cancer treatment and NHS facilities at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust.

The Council allocated £14 million in total funding in the 2025/26 round of its annual Strategic CIL programme across all sectors and areas of the Borough.  NHS related funding allocations have included:

• £900,000 towards the expansion of the Chemotherapy Unit at Royal Surrey County Hospital
• £700,000 towards 6 new theatres in the hospital's Cancer and Surgical Innovation Centre, and
• £400,000 towards a new Modular Aseptic Unit at the hospital.

Together, these three Strategic CIL recommendations alone total £2 million towards improving cancer treatment facilities at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, which is the leading provider of cancer care for Waverley’s residents.

The investment will help deliver:

• A significantly expanded chemotherapy unit, almost doubling the number of patients who can be treated
• A new aseptic unit where chemotherapy and other specialist medicines can be safely prepared
• Specialist equipment supporting the new £43.5 million Cancer and Surgical Innovation Centre due to open later this year.

The current Chilworth Day Unit at Royal Surrey already treats around 600 patients every week and operates at full capacity. Plans for the expansion would increase treatment capacity from 52 chairs to around 100 chairs, helping meet growing demand for cancer services across Surrey and the South East.

Waverley Liberal Democrats are delighted to see these NHS projects come forward through the Strategic CIL process because of the clear and substantial benefits they will bring to local residents and families across the borough.

Supporting vital infrastructure for a growing borough

Community Infrastructure Levy funding is generated through developer contributions linked to new development and growth in the borough. It is specifically intended to support infrastructure such as roads, schools, medical facilities, community buildings and open spaces needed to accommodate that growth.

Importantly, this funding is not funded through Council Tax. Instead, it is money secured from development specifically to invest in infrastructure that supports local communities.

There is sometimes a misconception spread about how CIL funding is allocated.

Strategic CIL funding is allocated through a formal annual bidding process. Organisations such as the NHS, Surrey County Council, town and parish councils, community groups and infrastructure providers must submit detailed applications for eligible projects.

Applications are then:

1. Assessed by officers against published criteria
2. Reviewed through a cross-party member process
3. Recommended for approval through the council’s democratic decision-making procedures

Not every project can be funded immediately. In some cases, infrastructure schemes are not yet ready to proceed, are awaiting planning permission or match funding, or require further design and feasibility work before public money can responsibly be allocated. Whilst the application might be sccessful the funding may be held and released at a later date when the project is ready to progress.

Waverley also reports publicly each year on:

• how much CIL funding has been collected
• what funding has been allocated
• what projects have been supported
• what funding remains available for future infrastructure investment

The Liberal Democrat-led Executive has always encouraged more bids from key public sector partners including the NHS, education providers and transport authorities so that infrastructure funding collected from development is reinvested into improving services for residents. 

These latest Royal Surrey projects are a strong example of Strategic CIL funding being used exactly as intended — delivering major healthcare infrastructure improvements that will directly benefit Waverley residents for many years to come.

Further information on the Strategic CIL process and annual bidding rounds can be found on the Waverley Borough Council CIL webpages.