Consultation proposes rates for 鈥榦rphaned鈥 blocks fund will vary accross the country
The government is pressing ahead with the controversial building safety levy designed to raise 拢3bn through a planning charge on private development by issuing a consultation on how it will operate.
A notice issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) said levy rates for the fund, which is expected to raise 拢3bn over 10 years, could be altered depending on where in the country a building is.
好色先生TV owners or developers could pay lower rates in areas where land and house prices are less expensive, suggested the consultation. The housebuilding sector has called the levy 鈥渦nacceptable鈥.
The money raised will pay for remediation works needed on 鈥榦rphaned鈥 buildings in need of fire safety repairs 鈥 ones where the owner cannot be traced or contacted 鈥 that are above 11 metres in height.
The consultation said developers of residential buildings will have to pay a contribution regardless of the height of the planned homes.
If they do not, they could be prevented from proceeding with current building projects through the planning system, which the department said could 鈥渋mpact future revenues鈥. It is expected the levy will be paid when developers are seeking planning permission.
The consultation also suggested local authorities were 鈥渂est placed to act as the collection agents as they have the necessary systems, data, knowledge, and relationships in place with the developer sector鈥.
Affordable homes are likely to be exempt from the levy charge to ensure supply, the government said.
Community buildings, including NHS facilities, children鈥檚 homes and refuges, including those for victims of domestic abuse would also be exempt, it added.
Lee Rowley, minister for local government and building safety, said: 鈥淲e have been clear that developers must pay to fix building safety issues and the building safety levy is an important part of making that a reality.
>>See also: Fight with housebuilders on the cards as Gove goes back to the future
>>See also: Housebuilders hit back over 拢3bn levy plan
鈥淭oday鈥檚 consultation will give industry and local authorities an opportunity to work with us going forward.鈥
Views are sought from all interested parties on how the levy will work, what the rates will be, who must pay, sanctions and who is responsible for collecting the levy.
The department said it wanted developers of all sizes, building control professionals and local authorities to take part in .
The levy, first announced in February last year, will be regularly reviewed and adjusted according to changing circumstances, such as wider economic conditions. Plans to extend it to cover all residential buildings were confirmed in April 2022 but the government aims to protect small and medium sized enterprises by excluding smaller projects.
The levy is in addition to the pledges announced earlier this year, under which homebuilders have committed to fix fire-safety defects in buildings over 11 metres they have played a role in developing or refurbishing over the last 30 years in England. This equates to a commitment of at least 拢2bn.
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