Friday 25 September 2026 10:04 am  |  Updated:  Friday 25 September 2026 10:09 am

The Building Safety Levy will cost eight times more in London than County Durham

By: Mark Holloway

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The new Building Safety Levy, introduced to pay for historic fire safety defects, will make many new developments unviable, especially in London where they are needed most, says Mark Holloway

The introduction of the Building Safety Levy (BSL) marks a shift in how the government funds the remediation of historic building safety defects. Due to come into force from 1 October 2026, the levy will apply to new residential developments in England and has a goal of raising £3.4bn. It is expected to cost developers an average of around £3,000 per plot.

BSL rates are set by local authority area and regional variations are striking, ranging from £100.35 per square metre in Kensington and Chelsea to just £12.70 in County Durham. The rationale is that higher value areas can bear greater contributions, but this neglects the fact that development viability is very strongly influenced by........

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