Policy Submissions

This submission sets out LCCI’s response to consultation on the proposed Visitor Levy in England. LCCI welcomes the opportunity to contribute to this consultation and recognises the importance of clarity and consistency in any potential Visitor Levy framework. London’s visitor economy already operates in a high-cost environment, characterised  by elevated business rates, labour pressures, regulatory complexity, and comparatively high VAT on hospitality services.

This submission sets out LCCI’s long-standing position on Heathrow expansion as enabling infrastructure that supports London’s outward-facing economy and the UK’s international connectivity. Drawing on the experience and priorities of London’s business community, it highlights the importance of timely delivery, regulatory certainty and investor confidence to realise the economic benefits of expansion.

The Draft Budget for 2026–27 presents an opportunity to reinforce London’s position as a globally competitive, dynamic and inclusive city. LCCI supports the Mayor’s focus on growth, skills, transport and regeneration, and encourages a final budget that provides confidence and a strong partnership with business.

QES findings indicate that business confidence in London continued to decline throughout 2025. Rising taxes, higher labour costs, and regulatory uncertainty are now the most common barriers to investment. The Business and Trade Committee has a vital role in investigating the challenges and the barriers to growth in London and the UK.

London’s business community remains vital to driving UK economic performance. Business support organisations (BSOs) bridge the gap between government and industry, ensuring that policy reflects real-world needs. The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI)—the capital’s largest independent business advocacy body, representing over 10,000 firms—provides up-to-date analysis through targeted surveys and submissions, highlighting critical challenges around investment, skills shortages, and planning bottlenecks.

The London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the proposals for the pedestrianisation and transformation of Oxford Street. In principle, we reaffirm our support for pedestrianisation in recognition of the opportunity it presents for the regeneration of one of London’s most iconic retail destinations.

LCCI supports the government’s growth mission and in anticipation of the publication of the Industrial Strategy and Small Business Strategy (due to be published this year), it backs the government’s commitment to provide small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) with the tools that enable them to start, thrive and grow.

In response to the Government’s call for evidence on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill which is currently passing through Parliament, LCCI has prepared the attached submission outlining our recommendations on how the Bill can be enhanced to deliver a more efficient, predictable, and business-responsive planning system.