Building Safety Levy
The Building Safety Levy (BSL) is a charge that developers must pay on certain building control applications and notices. The levy will come into effect on 1 October 2026.
The levy will be charged on certain applications for works that result in:
- 10 or more new dwellings
- 30 or more new bedspaces in purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA)
This includes change of use to residential purposes.
The government has set the levy rates in legislation. Local authorities will collect the levy. The amount payable depends on the building’s size, use and location. The levy rates are set per square metre (sqm) and the charge is calculated on the floorspace of the development. The levy rates for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly are:
- £29.58 per sqm for non-previously developed land
- £14.79 per sqm for previously developed land
There are exemptions from the levy for certain uses of buildings.
The following building control applications will need to provide levy information from 1 October 2026:
- Applications for Building Control approval with full plans
- Higher Risk building applications
- Initial Notices
- Updated applications (if updating an original application submitted on or after 1 October 2026)
More information can be found on: