The New West End Company (NWEC) has released a manifesto with priorities for future UK governments.
- NWEC represents over 600 businesses in London’s West End, advocating for economic, public safety, and planning focus.
- The manifesto recommends a comprehensive review of the business rates system and tax-free shopping reintroduction.
- It emphasises public safety through action against organised crime and calls for revising policing funding models.
- The company insists that a flexible planning system is crucial for fostering innovation and growth.
The New West End Company (NWEC) recently published a manifesto seeking prioritised attention from the United Kingdom’s political parties on economic growth, public safety, and planning. Representing over 600 UK and international entities within London’s West End, NWEC’s manifesto is informed by insights garnered from its diverse membership base.
Among its key recommendations is a thorough appraisal of the existing business rates system, which is viewed as outdated and burdensome. NWEC suggests reintroducing tax-free shopping to boost consumer spending and addressing significant skills shortages in pivotal sectors, thereby invigorating economic growth.
Public safety is another pivotal concern highlighted in the manifesto. The NWEC calls for enhanced measures to combat organised crime and reduce anti-social behaviour, while also advocating for more visible policing. It proposes a reassessment of the funding mechanisms for devolved policing to ensure safety on the streets is upheld.
On the planning front, the NWEC advocates for reforms that would render the planning system more adaptable. Flexibility in planning is seen by NWEC and its constituents as essential for encouraging business innovation and facilitating investment in the high streets.
Dee Corsi, chief executive of NWEC, emphasized the urgency, stating: “As the election nears, ‘growth’ has become a buzzword for both Labour and the Conservatives. But if our nation’s politicians are serious about delivering for the business sector, we need to take a long-term approach that tackles unwieldy business rates, encourages innovation by reforming the rigid planning system, and keeps streets safe by remodelling police funding.” This call for action is positioned as a roadmap designed to support any forthcoming government in promoting substantial growth.
NWEC’s manifesto offers a strategic framework for the UK’s economic and infrastructural advancement, urging political focus on key issues.
