Political opinion with Alison Griffiths MP: Grassroots sport Is paying the price for Labour’s rates changes

The one thing this Labour government has been exceedingly good at is U-turns.

There is however another one they should carry out, before their new business rates policy does lasting damage to our local sports clubs and venues.

Since Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a new way of how business rates are calculated, replacing temporary relief from April 2026 with a new multiplier system, there have been significant increases in rateable values across the sports sector which risk translating into higher bills for many clubs.

Sector analysis suggests premises have seen an average increase of around 18% in rateable value following this year’s revaluation.

But it gets much worse.

Increases in rateable value are even higher for certain property types, creating real concern about long-term sustainability for some facilities and venues.

Industry data indicates that tennis courts and clubs are seeing average increases in rateable value of around 39%, while football grounds are up by 38% on average, with football pitches rising by around 27%.

Amateur rugby clubs are typically seeing increases in rateable value of approximately 40%, and cricket grounds and cricket pitches of about 46%, according to industry figures.

These increases are not only eyewatering but deeply concerning against a backdrop of rising energy and staff costs in the sports and leisure sector.

While many charitable and Community Amateur Sports Clubs benefit from existing business rates relief, not every grassroots facility falls neatly into those categories or qualifies for full relief, and even where relief applies, significant valuation increases can still create financial pressure.

We are blessed with some fantastic clubs and venues in our area including Bognor Regis Town FC ‘The Rocks’ at Nyewood Lane, Rustington Cricket Club, Littlehampton Tennis Club and Bognor RFC, which last year celebrated their 60th anniversary.

These local venues and clubs provide vital sporting opportunities for those in our communities, make a vital contribution to local life and provide countless hours of pleasure (and frustration!) for participants and spectators alike.

I am using my voice in Parliament to raise concerns about how these sharp increases in rateable values risk unfairly punishing sporting communities across Bognor Regis, Littlehampton and our villages, and why the impact on grassroots sport must be urgently reviewed.

You can contact me via email: [email protected] or by post: Alison Griffiths MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.