Scottish Parliament backs new tax on housebuilding
BBC••world
Key Points:
- MSPs in Scotland have backed the general principles of the Building Safety Levy Bill, aimed at raising around £30 million annually to fund the repair of unsafe cladding on buildings, with the levy set to be charged from April 2028.
- The tax will apply to new residential properties built by developers for sale, student flats, build-to-rent properties, and redeveloped residential buildings, contributing to the Scottish government's Cladding Remediation Programme launched after the Grenfell Tower disaster.
- Critics, including Conservative and Labour MSPs, warn the levy could hinder housebuilding, unfairly penalize developers not responsible for cladding issues, and argue the government should better utilize existing funds before introducing new taxes.
- Trade bodies and housebuilders express concerns that
