Builders ‘let off hook’ over special levy

THE Government was accused last night of letting builders off the hook when it emerged they have only paid a special social housing levy on 400 out of 80,000 houses.

This levy was introduced two years ago as part of a special deal between the Government and the construction industry after intense lobbying.

The builders wanted these 80,000 houses, whose planning permissions were about to expire, to be exempt from a new rule that required 20% of all new developments to be social and affordable housing.