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 new higher-rate 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.
We welcome the publication of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s “Game On: Community and School Sport” report, which identifies a series of recommendations to government to strengthen grassroots sport and physical activity.
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The Sport and Recreation Alliance is delighted to confirm appointments to the National Governing Body (NGB) Coalition Management Committee, alongside existing NGB Coalition Division Chair, Ralph Rimmer OBE, and Deputy Chair, Jack Baker.
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The Sport and Recreation Alliance is delighted to welcome Justine Baynes to the Board to fill a casual vacancy.
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