New ‘polluter pays’ tax on high-rises will fund repair of fire safety defects in wake of Grenfell

New ‘polluter pays’ tax on high-rise developments will fund repair of fire safety defects – including unsafe cladding – in the wake of Grenfell

  • Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick will reveal details of a ‘polluter pays’ tax 
  • Sources said the move would protect leaseholders and taxpayers from the cost
  • More than a million private flats are thought to be affected by safety defects 

Developers will be forced to help pay for repairs to unsafe buildings in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick will this week reveal details of a ‘polluter pays’ tax on new high-rise developments to fund the repair of fire safety defects – including unsafe cladding – on existing buildings.

Sources said the move would protect leaseholders and taxpayers from shouldering the cost.

More than a million private flats are thought to be affected by safety defects identified after the 2017 Grenfell Tower blaze in West London, which claimed 72 lives.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick will this week reveal details of a ‘polluter pays’ tax on new high-rise developments to fund the repair of fire safety defects – including unsafe cladding

More than a million private flats are thought to be affected by safety defects identified after the 2017 Grenfell Tower blaze in West London, which claimed 72 lives

More than a million private flats are thought to be affected by safety defects identified after the 2017 Grenfell Tower blaze in West London, which claimed 72 lives

Mr Jenrick will unveil a consultation on asking developers to pay the levy when they seek permission to build high-rise residential buildings of 18 metres or more. 

Affordable housing will be exempt.

A Government source said: ‘We are pressing ahead with a levy on developers so that the polluter pays… leaseholders and the taxpayer should not be the ones picking up the tab.’