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Building Safety Levy

In this section

The Building Safety Levy helps fund work to fix building safety defects in residential buildings. It is part of the Government's plan to make sure the development industry contributes towards these costs, helping to protect both leaseholders and taxpayers.

Money raised through the levy will be used to support building safety improvements and make affected homes safer for residents.

When does it start?

The Building Safety Levy applies to relevant building control applications and initial notices submitted from 1 October 2026 for new residential developments in England, unless an exemption applies.

Which developments are affected?

The levy applies to developments that provide:

  • One or more new homes, or
  • Bedspaces in Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA)

The following application types must include levy information:

  • Full plans applications
  • Initial notices
  • Higher-Risk Building (HRB) applications

If the required levy information is not provided, the application or notice may be rejected.

What information must developers provide?

Developers must include levy information when submitting a building control application or initial notice.
Provide further levy information and supporting evidence at the commencement notice stage.

This information allows the local authority to calculate the levy charge.

How is the levy calculated?

The levy is based on the amount of residential floorspace being created.

The amount payable depends on:

  • The local authority area where the development is located
  • Whether the development is on previously developed (brownfield) land

Developments on brownfield land receive a 50% discount on the levy rate.

Who collects the levy?

Local authorities with building control responsibilities are responsible for calculating and collecting the levy.

Payment must be made before the earlier of:

  • The building being occupied, or
  • The development being completed

What developments are exempt?

You will not have to pay the levy for:

  • Affordable housing
  • Supported housing
  • Homes built by non-profit registered providers and their wholly owned subsidiaries
  • Small developments with fewer than 10 homes

Some other development types are also exempt. Full details are available in the Government regulations.

What if I disagree with the levy charge?

If you believe the levy has been calculated incorrectly, or you disagree with a refund decision, you can:

Ask the collecting authority to review the decision within 28 days.
Appeal to the First-tier Tribunal if you remain dissatisfied after the review.

What happens if the levy is not paid?

Building control authorities can withhold important certification until the levy has been paid in full. This may include:

A completion certificate, or

  • A final certificate
  • Further guidance

For detailed information about levy rates, exemptions, calculations and the appeals process, see the Government's Building Safety Levy guidance and regulations.

Further information

For full guidance, regulations and levy rates, visit:

Read more …Building Safety Levy

Criteria for naming new streets

In this section

The following criteria must be taken into account when selecting names for new streets on
a development:

  • Names must not duplicate or cause conflict with other streets in the locality (e.g. ‘Hill View Road, ‘Hill View Drive’, ‘Hill View Way’, etc.)
  • Names must be easy to spell and pronounce
  • Names must not breach copyright, reflect any company trading name, be offensive, nor named after living people
  • If streets are named after people who have died, all efforts should be made to obtain the permission of the next of kin. If this is not possible, the name may still be
    used but evidence of the efforts made should be kept on file
  • Any road names named after people must only use the surname - first names or titles must not be included
  • Names must not start with ‘The’
  • Avoid complex or multi-syllable names or names that sound phonetically similar (e.g. Willow, Winnow; Church Hill, Churchill, Birch Hill)
  • No abbreviations or punctuations to be used
  • Use appropriate suffixes (such as Road, Close, Way, etc.) that correctly reflect the physical nature or layout of the thoroughfare
  • Don't include numbers or words that sound like numbers in street names (e.g. ‘Seven Street’)
  • Names with any reference to the Royal family or the use of the word ‘Royal’ require the consent of the Lord Chamberlain’s office NB: This is a lengthy process andusually not allowed

Historic Addresses: The above does not apply to any existing legacy address that may have been allowed in the past under different criteria.

Review: These criteria will be reviewed, at a minimum of annually, by the Corporate Database Manager, to take into account any changes to the best practice with regards to
street naming and numbering.

Effective Date: January 2026

Read more …Criteria for naming new streets

Criteria for the naming of properties

In this section

Residential or Commercial, New or Existing

The following criteria must be taken into account when selecting property names:

  • Names must be unique to other properties in the locality and not contain similar names with different suffixes or in combination (e.g. ‘Hill House’, ‘Hill Barn’, ‘Hill View House’, etc.)
  • Names must be easy to spell
  • Names must not breach copyright, be offensive, nor named after living people
  • Names should not start with ‘The’
  • Avoid complex or multi-syllable names or names that sound phonetically similar (e.g. Willow, Winnow; Church Hill, Churchill, Birch Hill)
  • No abbreviations or punctuations to be used
  • Use appropriate suffixes (such as House, Court, Lodge, Cottage, etc.) that correctly reflect the style, age and use of the property
  • Don't include numbers or words that sound like numbers in property names (e.g. ‘Severn House, 7 New Street’)
  • In the case of a new development that falls within a numbered street, properties will be numbered, but may also be allocated a name in addition to the number
  • Names with any reference to the Royal family or the use of the word ‘Royal’ require the consent of the Lord Chamberlain’s office NB: This is a lengthy process and usually not allowed

Historic Addresses: The above does not apply to any existing legacy address that may have been allowed in the past under different criteria.

Review: These criteria will be reviewed, at a minimum of annually, by the Corporate Database Manager, to take into account any changes to the best practice with regards to 
street naming and numbering.

Effective Date: January 2026 

Read more …Criteria for the naming of properties

South Worcestershire Local Plan (SWLP)

Malvern Hills District, Worcester City and Wychavon District Councils (the South Worcestershire Councils) will begin work on preparing a new local plan. The following documents notify those with an interest in plan preparation of this intention and set out the anticipated plan making timetable, prepared in accordance with section 15B of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

All data is provided under the Open Government Licence.

Timetable for the South Worcestershire Local Plan

The three South Worcestershire Councils (SWCs), namely Malvern Hills District Council, Wychavon District Council and Worcester City Council have prepared a local plan timetable to reflect the updated national plan-making requirements and to provide a clear programme for preparing the South Worcestershire Local Plan (SWLP).

Notice of Plan Making

Names of planning authorities preparing the plan?

Malvern Hills District, Worcester City and Wychavon District Councils

Title of the Plan being prepared?

South Worcestershire Local Plan

The area covered by the Plan?

The administrative boundaries covered by Malvern Hills District, Worcester City and Wychavon District Councils.

Map of South Worcestershire

Date of publication of this Notice?

30 June 2026

Link to timetable for plan preparation

Date the SWC expect to start preparing the plan?

31 October 2026

Biodiversity Net Gain

In this section

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is an approach to development that leaves biodiversity in a measurably better state after development than before.

Under the Environment Act 2021, all developments except for some exemptions have to deliver 10% BNG.

This requirement does not replace, but is in addition to, the existing policy and legal requirements related to biodiversity and development.

Development must follow biodiversity gain hierarchy by first avoiding adverse impacts to habitat (particularly habitats of medium distinctiveness and higher), and where impacts are unavoidable, prioritising compensation in the following order where possible:​

  1. Enhancement of existing onsite habitats
  2. Creation of new onsite habitats
  3. Allocation of registered offsite gains
  4. Last Resort: Purchasing Statutory Biodiversity Credits*

* Evidence that the developer has approached 3 local or national suppliers, habitat banks and that insufficient off-site options are available must first be provided, unless less than 0.25 Biodiversity Units are required

To measure BNG and assess the impacts of planning applications the Statutory Biodiversity Metric Tools and Guides should be used.

To determine the ‘Strategic Significance’ of habitat creation and enhancement, the Worcestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy must be used.

Please also refer to the Council’s BNG Guidance Document

Biodiversity Net Gain Guidance Document

Following changes to mandatory BNG which took effect on 6 August 2026, planning applications received by the Council before 6 August 2026 will continue to be considered under the BNG requirements that applied at the time the application was received by the Council. This applies even if the application was validated on or after 6 August 2026.’
Please could this be inserted above the drop-down section for ‘Validation Information Requirements.

Read the BNG Guidance Document

  • Validation Information Requirements

    • Planning Application Form indicating; whether the applicant believes that planning permission, if granted, would be subject to, or exempt from, the biodiversity gain condition and the reasons why; if any irreplaceable habitats are present; and whether any degradation to on-site habitats has occurred.
    • A Pre-development Habitat plan, drawn to an identified scale which must show the direction of North, showing on-site habitat existing on the date of application (or an earlier date), including any irreplaceable habitat.
    • A Biodiversity Metric showing the pre-development biodiversity value of the on-site habitats on the date of application (or an earlier date). Please ensure that ‘date of completion’, and ‘name of person completing the metric’ have been filled in, and that the Metric is saved as a macro-disabled excel file (.xlsx) with all sheets visible. Choice of biodiversity metric must be guided by the following the Statutory Biodiversity Metric User Guides.
    • A description of any irreplaceable habitat (as set out in column 1 of the Schedule to the Biodiversity Gain Requirements (Irreplaceable Habitat) Regulations [2024]) on the land to which the application relates, that exists on the date of application, (or an earlier date).

    In addition to these minimum information requirements the following information is required for major development applications:

    • Post-Intervention Habitat Plan, drawn to an identified scale and including the direction of North, showing any habitats to be retained, enhanced, and/or created.
    • Off-Site Baseline and Post-Intervention Plans will be required if an off-site gain site is proposed. Plans must be drawn to an identified scale (including the direction of north), showing existing habitat to be retained and enhanced, and new habitats to be created.
    • A biodiversity net gain feasibility assessment - which can be included as a chapter in the Ecological Impact Assessment report or as a separate report. The assessment must include a rationale for the condition assessment and strategic significance assigned to each habitat type, and confirmation that the biodiversity gain hierarchy has been adhered.

    Where significant on-site gains or off-site gains are being delivered then a draft Biodiversity Gain Plan will be required.

    If this information has not been provided your application will not be validated.

  • Information Required prior to determination:

    In addition to any other information on the Biodiversity and Planning web page, the following information should be submitted as soon after Validation as possible to allow a timely consideration before Determination:

    • A draft Biodiversity Gain Plan (BGP) – using the Government’s BGP template.
    • A Post-Development Habitat Plan (if one has not already been submitted) drawn to an identified scale and including the direction of North, showing any habitats (UKHab) to be retained, enhanced, and/or created.
    • A fully completed Biodiversity Metric calculation tool showing the baseline and post- intervention habitat.
    • Statutory Biodiversity Metric Condition Sheets – completed for each habitat parcel (if baseline condition is required by the metric).

    Where off-site gains, or significant on-site gains are proposed:

    • A draft Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) will be required using Natural England’s HMMP template.
    • A Heads-of-Terms or draft S106 Agreement will be required clearly setting out the obligations that applicants are likely to be bound by in a section 106 agreement should permission be granted.

  • Discharging the Statutory Biodiversity Gain Condition:

    The biodiversity gain condition has its own separate statutory basis, as a planning condition under paragraph 13 of Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The condition is deemed to apply to every planning permission granted for the development of land in England (unless exemptions or transitional provisions apply).

    To discharge the biodiversity gain condition, the statutory framework requires a Biodiversity Gain Plan to be submitted to the Local Planning Authority prior to the commencement of development.

    The Biodiversity Gain Plan must be submitted in writing, no earlier than the day after planning permission has been granted, and must contain a number of matters to enable the Local Planning Authority to determine whether the biodiversity gain objective has been met. This will require the developer to submit several documents as evidence alongside a completed Biodiversity Gain Plan

    Submitting a compliance of condition application:

    • Developers can apply to discharge the biodiversity gain at the same time as other planning conditions, however there will be a separate fee.
    • The Local Planning Authority has 8 weeks to approve or refuse the application, and a separate decision notice will be issued.
    • The development cannot commence until the biodiversity gain condition has been discharged.

  • Submission requirements for the statutory Biodiversity Gain Condition:

    • A completed Biodiversity Gain Plan using the Government's Biodiversity Gain Plan template
    • A completed copy of the Statutory Biodiversity Metric or Small Sites Metric (statutory biodiversity metric) excel spreadsheet in .xlsx format.
    • On-Site Baseline Habitat Plan - drawn to an identified scale and showing the direction of North. It must include all baseline habitats, including the area of each habitat type. If the statutory biodiversity metric has been used, units must be in hectares for habitat areas and kilometres for linear habitats. If the small sites biodiversity metric has been used, units must be meters squared for the habitat areas and meters for linear habitats. The map must be submitted separately in pdf format. For significant onsite gains secured by S106 agreements – the map should also be submitted in GIS format (shapefile).
    • On-site post intervention map - The map must be drawn to an identified scale and show the direction of North. It must show existing habitat types to be retained and enhanced, and new habitat types to be created. If the statutory biodiversity metric has been used, units must be in hectares for habitat areas and kilometres for linear habitats. If the small sites biodiversity metric has been used, units must be meters squared for the habitat areas and meters for linear habitats. The map must be submitted separately in pdf format. For significant onsite gains secured by S106 agreements – the map should also be submitted in GIS format (shapefile).

    Developers may also need to submit the following information:

    • Off-site Baseline Habitat Plans and Post-Intervention Habitat Plans - if off-site gains are proposed on land within the developer’s ownership or through a third-party landowner. Plans must be drawn to an identified scale and show the direction of North. The maps must show existing habitat types to be retained and enhanced, and new habitat types to be created. If the statutory biodiversity metric has been used, units must be in hectares for habitat areas and kilometres for linear habitats. If the small sites biodiversity metric has been used, units must be meters squared for habitat areas and meters for linear habitats. The maps must be submitted in two different file formats: PDF and Shapefile.
    • A Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP)* using Natural England’s HMMP template as a guide, detailing how significant on-site, and all off-site habitats will be established, managed and monitored.
    • Landscape and Ecological Management Plan (LEMP)* (or any other management condition linked to biodiversity net gain) if the Local Planning Authority has deemed this an appropriate alternative to a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (please refer to the conditions included on your decision notice).
    • If off-site units from an existing gains site are used, we will require confirmation that biodiversity units have been allocated to the development. If the allocation is not listed yet on the National Gains Site Register we will accept an email from Natural England confirming the allocation.
    • Proof of purchase of statutory biodiversity credits – if they have been used.
    • A compensation plan - if the development affects irreplaceable habitats.

    *A HMMP and LEMP are long-term habitat management and monitoring strategies that detail a developer’s commitment to achieving the biodiversity gain objective. They are secured through separate conditions to the Biodiversity Gain condition, yet they are intrinsically linked. Therefore, the LPA are requesting developers apply for the approval of the Biodiversity Gain Plan and HMMP or LEMP conditions at the same time.

    There are separate requirements for phased development. In this instance, the developer will need to complete and submit the following:

    • An Overall Biodiversity Gain Plan
    • A Phase Biodiversity Gain Plan (for each phase of the development) which can be submitted alongside reserved matters

Read more …Biodiversity Net Gain

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