Building Safety Levy is an Anti-Growth Policy

The Government has released its response to the Building Safety Levy (BSL) consultation, confirming the taxation levels it seeks to impose across the development industry.
Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the National Federation of Builders, said:
“The Building Safety Levy is anti-growth, anti-SME policy, which will weaken the housebuilding industry and put the Government’s 1.5 million home promise in further jeopardy. It rejects the polluter pays principle, targeting innocent housebuilders, and risking unintended consequences, such as shrinking the size of new build homes.
The industry already knew that the Conservative government had chosen to tax innocent housebuilders while letting guilty parties off the hook. We had hoped that Labour, the Government of growth, would reject such a bad policy that hinders industry growth, but instead it choose proportionate unfairness.”
The BSL will come into force in Autumn 2026 with levy rates charged per square-metre of chargeable floorspace for works on non-previously developed land (PDL) and works on previously developed land. PDL rates are discounted by 50%.
Rates are highest in areas with the most expensive housing and lowest in the least expensive.
Several BSL exemptions will be in place, including for government funded projects and sites of fewer than ten homes.
Rico Wojtulewicz, Head of Policy and Market Insight at the NFB and House Builders Association (HBA), commented:
“Small builders came to the Government with a solution that shared remediation costs across all accountable industries, as well as delivered a ‘polluters should pay more’ principle. It is devastating news that a fairer form of unfairness has been rejected.
Our solution would raise funds more quickly, therefore freeing leaseholders of their nightmare. Would not disproportionately target innocent builders and building companies yet to be created. Ensured that SMEs, who train 73% of our apprentices, offer the most secure employment, who were not involved in various industry scandals, and who build the social and affordable housing the Government is basing its reputation on, were not being targeted for the sake of political expedience.”

EAN Breaking News

Breaking News from the team at Estate Agent Networking. Have a new story to share with us? Then please get in contact today! When and where we can we will refer to third party websites with a 'live link back' where news was released first.

You May Also Enjoy

Letting Agent Talk

What Leaseholder Reform Really Means for Managing Agents

By Robert Poole, Director – Block Management, Glide Property Management, part of LRG The past decade has seen a growing focus on leaseholder rights, and in the last few years, that focus has intensified into full-scale reform. With the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 now enacted and further measures under consultation, managing agents are…
Read More
Breaking News

Mortgage approvals bounce back in September

The property industry’s reaction to the latest mortgage approval data from the Bank of England. The latest figures show that: – Mortgage approvals on house purchases for September sat at 65,944 up (+1.5%) from 64,963 in August. Approvals are up slightly (+0.5%) when compared to the 65,628 seen in September 2024. This increase shows stability…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

E-E-A-T and Beyond: What Google Really Wants From Your Website Content

When it comes to ranking in Google search, content quality isn’t just about good writing or clever keywords anymore. Google’s algorithms have become far more sophisticated, prioritising expertise, experience, authority and trustworthiness, a concept now commonly referred to as E-E-A-T. Understanding and implementing E-E-A-T is essential for anyone who wants their website to perform well…
Read More
Letting Agent Talk

Added value for tenants: Simple improvements that can justify higher rent

By Allison Thompson, National Lettings Managing Director, Romans Although the rent you charge must be in line with local market rates, there will be a range of prices, and you want to be at the top end. Modern fittings and clean, fresh décor are a standard ‘must’, but what are the extra things you can…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News 29/10/25

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   New joint venture to deliver purpose built housing for 1,500 students Valpre Capital and Katch Investment Group launch JV Platform delivering more student accommodation across the UK, the joint venture is set to deliver up to 1,500 student beds in the next few years Following…
Read More
Breaking News

Homes on spooky street names like ‘bat’ and ‘hell’ sell for far above the national average

The Halloween street names that cost a fortune to live on A new study has determined which Halloween-themed streets are the most expensive to live on.  Streets with the word ‘bat’ in the name face an increase of 188.6% from the national average house price in the UK.  Streets that include the words ‘cauldron’ or…
Read More