Hospitality calls for planning and rent reform ahead of budget

The hospitality industry is calling on the chancellor to reform planning and rent structures to stave off a crisis in the sector. Under the auspices of UKHospitality, 150 businesses have written to Jeremy Hunt ahead of next week’s Budget warning that urgent action is necessary. Businesses are asking for licensing and planning reform and structural reform of commercial rents, as part of moves to regenerate towns and cities. Other key measures cited are the freeing up of investment by removing unnecessary red tape, business rates reform and tackling debt to boost liquidity. They are also calling for measures to deliver workforce skills and to attract people into work via reform of the apprenticeship levy, including reductions in national insurance contributions for the over-25s. The Times (£)