Building Safety Levy (England)

Checklist to help developers prepare information for the Building Safety Levy through the building control process.

Quick facts

• Levy start date: applies to relevant building control applications and notices submitted on or after 1 October 2026.
• Typical threshold: major residential development (for example, 10+ dwellings or 30+ purpose-built student accommodation bedspaces), subject to exemptions and “wider development” rules.
• Pendle levy rates (per m² of chargeable floorspace): £13.11/m² standard; £6.55/m² previously developed land.
• Payment: where a levy charge applies, payment must be made before the earlier of first occupation and building control completion/final certification.

Step-by-step checklist

1) Before you submit (triage)

• Confirm the building control route (Local Authority Building Control full plans/ Registered Building Control Approver initial notice/Building Safety Regulator).
• Check whether works are likely to be a major residential development (10+ dwellings or 30+ purpose-built student accommodation bedspaces) and whether works are part of a wider development under the same planning permission.
• Identify any exemptions likely to apply (for example social/supported housing, exempt buildings, exempt persons) and start gathering evidence.

2) At building control submission / initial notice (basic levy information)

• Provide planning permission reference(s) and site address details.
• Provide number of dwellings and/or purpose-built student accommodation bedspaces created by the works (net increase where applicable).
• Provide initial statement on whether exemptions may apply (and what evidence you will provide).
• Provide initial statement on whether you believe the previously developed land discounted rate applies (evidence usually follows at commencement stage).

3) At first commencement notice (levy charging information + evidence)

• Provide floorspace information (gross internal area schedules in m²) for chargeable dwellings/ purpose-built student accommodation and any communal areas for residents.  Ensure measurements follow the required gross internal area approach and rounding (nearest whole m²; 0.5 rounds up).
• Provide evidence to support previously developed land status if claiming the discounted rate (previously developed land is assessed against the planning redline and the regulatory definition).
• Provide evidence for any exemption claims (tenure/provider status, planning obligations, supporting documents, etc.).
• Registered Building Control Approver route: the client must also provide a copy of the first commencement notice and levy evidence to the collecting authority within two working days. 

4) After submission of charging information

• Pendle Borough Council (the collecting authority) will issue either a Levy Liability Notice or a Notice of No Charge.
• The determination timescale runs from the statutory ‘receipt date’ (generally when the last of the required levy information, the first compliant commencement notice and supporting evidence are received).
• If selected for a levy information spot check, you may be asked for further clarification/evidence.

5) Payment and levy payment certificate

• Pay the levy to Pendle Borough Council (the collecting authority).  Payment instructions will be provided with the levy determination. 
• Keep proof of payment/remittance details.
• Pendle Borough Council will issue a Levy Payment Certificate within two weeks of receiving the full levy payment.

6) Completion / final certificate gate

• Before completion/final certification, ensure levy position is clear: paid in full or Notice of No Charge received (and not cancelled).
• Failure to pay will delay completion/final certification.

7) Changes, refunds, reviews and appeals (if applicable)

• If the development changes and affects levy liability, you must notify the collecting authority.
• If you disagree with a levy decision, you may request a review within 28 days of the relevant notice or decision and may be able to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal.

Pendle levy rates

Contact

Pendle Building Control: building.control@pendle.gov.uk

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