RE:Scotland Response to Scottish Building Safety Levy

We submitted our response to the Scottish Government's technical consultation on the Scottish Building Safety Levy which closed on 9 October.

Our underlying response raised concerns about its potential impact on housing delivery, development viability and investment across Scotland.

Our response highlights several key recommendations, including:

• Floorspace calculations: Supporting the exclusion of communal areas to ensure the Levy does not disproportionately impact higher-density residential developments, including BTR and PBSA.

• Brownfield development: Calling for greater flexibility in relief to reflect the significant additional costs associated with developing brownfield sites.

• Conversions: Supporting exemptions for the conversion of existing buildings into residential use.

• Transitional arrangements: Calling for meaningful protections for developments already committed or underway before the Levy's introduction.

• Housing delivery and viability: Highlighting the cumulative impact of rising construction costs and regulatory pressures, and the need to avoid further discouraging residential investment.

Our response also calls for the introduction of the Levy to be considered once there has been a sustained recovery in housing delivery across Scotland.