In Britain, building a new glass box attracts zero VAT Repairing a historic stone building attracts 20% The tax system has been actively incentivising demolition over restoration since 1994 Every time a developer weighs up whether to repair an old building or knock it down and start again, the government adds 20% to the cost of doing the right thing @createstreets and others have been calling for VAT parity on listed building repairs for years It has not happened yet