This afternoon, the Chancellor delivered her Budget speech to Parliament, outlining decisions on tax and spending.
As expected, the Government confirmed changes to the business rates system from 2026-27, including a new system of relief for Retail, Leisure and Hospitality (RHL) businesses. Government has confirmed the new RHL multipliers and that it will introduce a new higher-rate multiplier on the largest properties. It has also been announced that there will be transitional relief arrangements to help those organisations most impacted by increases in their bills.
Responding to the Budget, Alliance CEO Lisa Wainwright MBE said:
“We are disappointed that the Chancellor has not heeded our call for sport and recreation premises to be exempt from the RHL multiplier. We are concerned this will add further cost to sport and recreation facilities at a time when margins are already tight. This is something we have consistently raised with the Government in the lead up to today’s announcement.
We are also concerned about the potential impact of new higher property valuations on bills for smaller grassroot sport and recreation clubs and facilities. Higher bills threaten clubs’ viability and could reduce access to sport and recreation.
However, we welcome the Chancellor’s commitment to introduce support to help organisations transition to the new arrangements, something the Sport and Recreation Alliance also called for in advance of the Budget.
Sport and recreation has a huge role to play in helping the Government meets it stated missions. We will continue to work with Government and our members to ensure the tax regime works to support grassroots sport and recreation and the enormous economic and social value it delivers.”
The full Budget document is available here.
Over the coming days, we will provide members with a full summary of what the Budget means for the sport and recreation sector.
Ahead of the Chancellor’s Budget statement on 26 November, we take a look a look at the key areas to be aware of and the work the Alliance has been doing lobbying on behalf of members.
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Government has today formally launched a consultation on reforming the role of statutory consultees in the planning system. The consultation runs for eight weeks, closing on 13 January 2026.
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As part of the Sport and Recreation Alliance’s 90th anniversary celebrations, nine young people have been recognised as future sector leaders in a special Youth Edition of the organisation’s annual Community Sport and Recreation Awards.
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