The UK government has postponed the introduction of the Building Safety Levy tax to autumn 2026, aiming to raise £3.4 billion for improving building safety and removing unsafe cladding. The decision was influenced by developer concerns that the tax would heighten building costs and hinder the achievement of the target for 1.5 million homes by 2030. While Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook insists that the government remains dedicated to building safety, industry representatives like Neil Jefferson argue the tax should be eliminated entirely due to its unjust burden on developers and negative impact on housing supply.
The delay comes after developers said the tax could increase building costs and result in the government missing its target to build 1.5 million homes by 2030.
Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook expressed commitment to the tax, insisting the delay wouldn’t slow down safety improvements, blaming the previous administration for the current cladding issues.
Neil Jefferson of the Home Builders Federation welcomed the delay, recognizing the additional costs would constrain housing supply and pushing for the scrapping of the tax altogether.
The tax, originally announced in 2021, aims to raise 3.4bn for building safety, including removing dangerous cladding and addressing the repercussions of the Grenfell Tower fire.
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