The Building Safety Levy has been introduced by the government following the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, which exposed significant building safety issues within residential buildings across England.

The levy came into effect on 1 October 2026.

The Building Safety Levy is part of the Government’s wider approach to ensure industry contributes to the costs of remediating building safety defects, while protecting leaseholders and taxpayers. Revenue raised through the levy will support remediation efforts and help make affected buildings safer for residents.

The Building Safety Levy is part of the Government’s wider approach to ensure industry contributes to the costs of remediating building safety defects, while protecting leaseholders and taxpayers. Revenue raised through the levy will support remediation efforts and help make affected buildings safer for residents.

Subsequent reviews, including the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety (the Hackitt Review), identified serious weaknesses in the design, construction and regulatory oversight of higher-risk residential buildings.

The Government has committed to ensuring that leaseholders do not bear the cost of remediating these historic defects.

To support this commitment, a range of funding measures have been introduced, including:

• developer contributions through legal agreements
• the Residential Property Developer Tax
• the Building Safety Levy

Objectives of the levy

The levy has been introduced to:

• support the funding of building safety remediation across England
• ensure residential developers contribute towards addressing historic building safety defects
• reduce the financial burden on leaseholders and residents
• promote a safer, more accountable construction industry

Building safety reforms

The levy forms part of a wider programme of building safety reforms, including:

• the Building Safety Act 2022
• a new regulatory regime for higher risk buildings (HRB)
• enhanced responsibilities for developers, building owners and duty holders
• greater oversight by the Building Safety Regulator

Together, these measures aim to improve building safety standards, strengthen accountability across the construction sector and restore public confidence in residential buildings.

How to tell if the levy applies to your development

The levy applies to building regulation applications for work that results in new dwellings, major developments and/or new bedspaces in purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and change of use to residential purposes. The levy may also apply to certain mixed-use and change of use developments.

Certain developments are exempt from the levy, including affordable housing, supported housing and housing built by non-profit registered providers (and their wholly-owned subsidiaries).

You must consider whether your development meets the levy charging criteria and complete the relevant section within the application stage form.

Developers will also be required to provide additional levy information and supporting evidence at Commencement Stage to enable levy assessment and calculation.

Examples of scenarios when a Building Safety Levy charge may or may not apply

Scenario 1: Development of 12 market dwellings. Levy likely payable subject to assessment.

Scenario 2: Affordable housing delivered by a Registered Provider. Likely exempt subject to supporting evidence.

Scenario 3: Mixed-use development containing residential floorspace. Assessment required.

Scenario 4: Previously developed land scheme. Assessment required and supporting evidence needed.

Exemptions

Certain developments may be exempt from the levy where they meet the criteria set out in legislation. This is to be determined by the collecting authority. GOV.UK legislation guidance can provide further information.

Examples include:

• developments of fewer than 10 new dwellings
• hotel (staff accommodation), private hospitals, school accommodation and care homes
• less than 30 bedspaces for purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA)
• NHS facilities
• no new residential floorspace gained
• social and affordable housing

The levy regulations include additional exemption categories. The full list can be found in the GOV.UK legislation guidance.

Building Safety Levy application stages

To submit the Building Safety Levy application please use the forms below.

BCP Council is the designated collecting authority and is responsible for assessing, administering, and collecting the levy within its area.

For building control full plans applications, higher risk building applications and initial notices relating to the provision of 1 or more dwellings or purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) bedspaces, the required Building Safety Levy information must be submitted with the application.

Full plans applications and higher risk building applications may be rejected if the required levy information is not provided. If an initial notice does not include the required levy information, the local authority must reject it within the existing 5 working day statutory period.

The developer (Named Client) is responsible for paying the levy.

Stage 1 – Register your development with the Building Safety Levy Information (Application Stage) Form

Complete and submit this form with a building control full plans application, higher risk building application or initial notice. The form is used to register the development for Building Safety Levy purposes. Complete all applicable sections and mandatory fields marked (*), and submit the completed form to buildingcontrol@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.

Stage 2 – Building Safety Levy (BSL) commencement stage form

Complete and submit the Building Safety Levy (BSL) Commencement Stage Form with the Building Regulations Commencement Notice or First Notice of Commencement.

Complete all applicable sections, mandatory fields (shown as*) and submit this form to buildingcontrol@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

This commencement stage form provides the information and supporting evidence required to assess and verify the development and calculate the Building Safety Levy charge.

Before completing the form, you should have the necessary development information and supporting evidence available, such as:

• floorspace calculations
• planning application references and supporting planning documentation
• exemption evidence
• Previously Developed Land (PDL) evidence

For detailed guidance on levy calculations, exemptions and evidence requirements, please refer to the GOV.UK Building Safety Levy guidance.

After you submit the commencement stage form

We will review the information and supporting evidence provided.

We aim to issue a Building Safety Levy Liability Notice, or a Notice of No Charge, within five weeks of receiving a valid Commencement Notice containing all required levy information.

Collecting Authorities are required to spot check 10% of Building Safety Levy applications received during each financial quarter.

If your application is selected for a spot check, you will be notified and the assessment period may be extended to up to eight weeks.

If additional information or evidence is required, the assessment period will recommence when the requested information has been received.

The Building Safety Levy Liability Notice will confirm the levy amount payable and provide details of the payment process.

Building Safety Levy payment process

Where a Building Safety Levy charge applies, the levy amount will be confirmed in the Building Safety Levy Liability Notice.

The levy amount shown on the Liability Notice will be invoiced through our corporate income management system.

Applicants should allow sufficient time for invoice processing, payment allocation and payment verification.

Payment must be made to the collecting authority prior to whichever occurs first: occupation of the development or completion of the development.

The Completion Certificate will only be issued once the full Building Safety Levy has been paid and a Building Safety Levy Payment Certificate has been issued.

Failure to pay the levy will mean the building control authority will withhold the Completion Certificate until full payment has been received.

Refer to GOV.UK's Building Safety Levy guidance for information on levy payment requirements.

Before you start

Supporting evidence helps us assess exemption claims, Previously Developed Land (PDL) claims and chargeable floorspace calculations.

If you are claiming an exemption or PDL status, supporting evidence must be submitted as part of the levy assessment process.

Supporting evidence may include:

• affordable housing schedules
• registered provider information
• site drawings and plans
• planning history information
• floorspace schedules, including communal areas
• supporting schedules and calculations

Evidence Register

This guidance relates to Section B3 of the commencement stage form.

Where multiple documents are submitted, applicants are encouraged to provide an Evidence Register listing:

• document reference
• document title
• document date
• purpose of the document

This helps us identify and assess supporting information more efficiently.

This table provides an example:

Document reference	Document title	Purpose
DRG-100	Proposed Site Layout	Site configuration
FS-01	Floorspace Schedule	GIA calculations
PDL-01	PDL Assessment	PDL claim
AH-01	Affordable Housing Schedule	Exemption evidence

Evidence Register attachment requirements

Make sure:

• documents are clearly named.
• drawings, plans and schedules are legible.
• calculations clearly identify the building, plot or phase to which they relate.
• supporting evidence is clearly linked to the exemption, PDL claim or floorspace calculation being submitted.

Here are some examples of clearly named documents:

• Floor Area Schedule Phase 1.pdf
• PDL Assessment Report.pdf
• Affordable Housing Schedule.xlsx
• Drawing 100 Proposed Layout.pdf

Incomplete evidence

If sufficient evidence is not provided:

• further information will be requested
• Levy assessment will be delayed and the Building Safety Levy Liability Notice will not be issued within the expected timescales

Building Safety Levy charging rates

Levy rates are set by the Government and cannot be amended by BCP Council.

Developments on Previously Developed Land (PDL), also known as brownfield land, are subject to a 50% discount on the standard levy rate.

Land type	BCP Council Levy Rate (£ per sqm)
Previously developed land (also known as brownfield land)	£17.65
Standard rate land (also known as greenfield land)	£35.29

Refer to the GOV.UK guidance for further information on levy rates and calculations.

Gross Internal Area (GIA)

The Building Safety Levy is calculated using Gross Internal Area (GIA), in accordance with the RICS Code of Measuring Practice.

When completing the Commencement Stage Form, all floor area information must be entered in square metres (m²).

Why we need GIA information

The Building Safety Levy is calculated using residential floorspace.

We will use GIA information to:

• assess chargeable residential floorspace
• assess exempt residential floorspace
• assess communal residential areas
• assess previously developed land calculations where required
• support Building Safety Levy calculations
• verify information supplied within the commencement stage form

Depending on the development, applicants may be required to provide:

• total residential GIA
• exempt residential GIA
• chargeable residential GIA
• existing residential GIA
• communal residential GIA
• supporting floorspace calculations
• floorspace schedules
• supporting drawings and plans

Rounding of floor areas

Floor area calculations must be rounded to the nearest whole square metre, as in these examples:

Measured GIA	Rounded GIA
142.2m²	142m²
142.4m²	142m²
142.5m²	143m²
142.6m²	143m²
142.9m²	143m²

For example, a GIA calculation of 142.6 m² would be rounded up to 143 m², whilst a GIA calculation of 142.4 m² would be rounded down to 142 m².

Previously Developed Land (PDL)

If claiming the Previously Developed Land (PDL) discount, supporting evidence should be recorded within the Evidence Register (Section B3 of the Commencement Stage Form).

A 50% Building Safety Levy discount applies where at least 75% of the site qualifies as Previously Developed Land (PDL).

PDL is land that has contained a building at any time since July 1948. Land or buildings most recently used for agriculture or forestry are excluded from being treated as PDL.

Supporting evidence may include:

• drawings and plans
• planning history information
• historic mapping
• previous site use information
• floor area calculations
• planning documentation

Detailed guidance on Previously Developed Land (PDL) eligibility is available within the GOV.UK guidance.

Communal floorspace

The Building Safety Levy may apply to communal areas as well as individual homes.

Communal areas are shared spaces within residential buildings that are used by residents.

Chargeable communal floorspace

Communal areas provided for the benefit of occupants of chargeable dwellings or purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) are chargeable floorspace.

Examples include:

• stairways
• lobbies
• landings
• plant rooms
• service areas
• other areas used solely by residents

A gym within a residential building that is only available to residents is also chargeable floorspace.

Non chargeable communal floorspace

Communal areas that are accessible to, or used by, members of the public are not chargeable floorspace.

For example, a gym that is open to non residents would not be chargeable.

Applicants should clearly identify communal areas within floorspace schedules, drawings and plans submitted as supporting evidence.

Communal floorspace information must be entered within Section B1 of the Commencement Stage Form. Supporting floorspace schedules, drawings and plans should be included within the Evidence Register (Section B3 of the Commencement Stage Form).

Refer to the GOV.UK guidance for further information on chargeable floorspace calculations.

The legislative provisions relating to communal floorspace are set out in Regulation 18 of The Building Safety Levy (England) Regulations 2025.

How we calculate the levy

Once the development has been registered using the application stage form and the commencement stage form has been submitted, with required floorspace information and supporting evidence, we will review everything provided and assess any exemption or Previously Developed Land (PDL) claims.

We calculate the levy and issue either a No Charge Notice or a Building Safety Levy Liability Notice, where applicable.

We then invoice the levy and collect payment. When we receive this payment, we will issue a Building Safety Levy Payment Certificate. We can then issue a Completion Certificate.

Understanding the Levy Notices, invoices and Levy Payment Certificate

The various notices, invoices and certificates involved in this process include:

• the No Charge Notice, which confirms that no Building Safety Levy charge applies following our assessment
• the Levy Liability Notice, which confirms the Building Safety Levy charge due following our assessment
• an invoice from us requesting payment of the Building Safety Levy charge - issued up to 14 days after the Levy Liability Notice
• the Levy Payment Certificate, which confirms that the Levy has been paid

Phased developments

For phased developments, levy liability is determined across the entire building control application rather than individual phases.

Where a levy charge applies, payment must be made in full for all units and phases covered by the application before a Levy Payment Certificate can be issued.

Initial formal review of a Levy Liability Notice

If a residential developer wishes to dispute the levy charge, a refund amount or the decision not to issue a refund, they can request a review by the Collecting Authority within 28 days.

If the review request is valid, we will reassess the information provided and determine whether the original levy decision should be amended.

Following the review, we will either:

• issue a Revised Levy Determination Notice where the original decision is changed
• confirm that the existing Levy Liability Notice remains unchanged

The outcome of the review will be issued within 28 days of receiving the review request.

What to include in a review request

A review request should include:

• Building Control application reference
• Building Safety Levy Liability Notice reference
• site address
• applicant name
• reason for requesting a review
• supporting evidence
• contact details

A review request may be submitted by email and should clearly explain the decision being challenged, the reasons for requesting the review and any supporting evidence.

First-tier tribunal

If the developer remains dissatisfied following the initial review, they may appeal to the First-tier tribunal within 28 days of receiving the initial review decision.

Contact details

If you have any questions about the Building Safety Levy, please contact the BSL Technicians at bctechnicians@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.

Legislation and guidance

Further information about the process is available:

• Building Safety Levy Guidance (GOV.UK)
• Building Safety Levy: Guidance - Section 2: Levy rates and calculations (GOV.UK)
• The Building Safety Levy (England) Regulations 2025
• The Building Safety Levy (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2026
• RICS Code of Measuring Practice
• Building a Safer Future: Final Report (Hackitt Review)