<p><span>The government has launched a consultation on its proposed Building Safety Levy.</span></p> <p><span>The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) is seeking views on the proposed design of the levy, which will apply to developers seeking permission to build certain high rise residential buildings in England of 18 metres and above - referred to as “Gateway 2” of the government’s new building safety regime.</span></p> <p><span>MHCLG said the money raised from the levy would be used to fix historic fire safety defects, “including unsafe cladding, protecting leaseholders and taxpayers from shouldering the burden of remediation costs”. </span></p> <p><span>The <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/the-building-safety-levy/consultation-on-the-building-safety-levy">consultation</a>, which closes on October 15, is also asking for evidence of possible impacts of the levy on the housebuilding industry and in terms of housing supply and regeneration. </span></p> <p><span>MHCLG estimated that around 200 schemes would be affected by the charge each year. It stated that the levy could impact </span><span>these </span><span>completions, with the consultation stating: “Developers may factor the increased cost into the price they are willing to pay for new sites, which - depending on the levy cost - may result in a reduced number of plots viable for development”. </span></p> <p><span>Affordable housing is set to be excluded …