BUSINESS REPORT


POLICYMATTERS WHAT’S NEXT FOR BUSINESSES?


Milton Keynes Chamber represents your views to the people who matter


announcement of a further delay to the overdue reform of the whole system. The need to deliver fundamental


Business leaders across our region say there is little to cheer over the UK economy avoiding a double-dip recession. The latest GDP figures show that the economy grew in the final quarter of 2020 by one per cent but, overall, it shrank by 9.9% throughout the year. While the vaccine rollout offers


optimism for many businesses, the scarring caused by the pandemic will likely be highlighted as Government support begins to wind down, with the very real prospect of continued post-Brexit disruption, any recovery may be slower than the Bank of England currently predicts.


The current drip-feed approach


to support measures means firms cannot plan for more than a few weeks ahead. The focus for the Chamber of


Commerce Policy Network will be to continue to amplify the voice of businesses throughout our region to ensure the support that firms desperately need is made available by the Government. Businesses will have welcomed


a clear roadmap back to a sense of normality. On 22 February in an address to Parliament, Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out a timeline when restrictions could begin to be gradually lifted but said the easing of lockdown would


be guided by data, not dates. It has clearly


been a huge challenge for the Government to get the balance right between the health of the economy and the health of the nation. An area that can certainly


‘BUSINESSES WILL HAVE WELCOMED A CLEAR ROADMAP BACK TO A SENSE OF NORMALITY’


change to this longstanding drag on business has become only more pressing in the light of Covid-19. Further delay in the reforming of a broken system will only hamper recovery by continuing to exacerbate business cash flow concerns as part of the fixed cost base that firms can do little to push downward. The concerns about business rate reform, support from Government and the impacts of Brexit are reported to our Chamber in a variety of ways. But most notably in our Quarterly Economic Survey (QES), we would encourage every


business leader within our


benefit from a more balanced approach by Government is the Business Rates system. The Chamber will continue to urge the Chancellor to extend the business rates support for those firms hardest hit by Covid-19 - after the


THE IMPACT OF CHANGES TO PLANNING USE CLASSES


The Government has made a radical overhaul of the regulations surrounding Planning Use Classes in the Use Classes Order 1987, in response to the changing face of the high street. The main change is to merge the number of uses into three main classes. Andrew Barr, Head of Planning and Development at Robinson & Hall, discusses.


While the changes should be broadly welcomed and should see the end of the large number of applications for minor changes of use clogging up the system, there is some nervousness surrounding the implications of these regulatory changes. Under the new system for example, it will be


possible to change the use of premises from say a dental practice to a restaurant, uses with considerably differing impacts on the local neighbourhood, without recourse either to the planning authority or to the local community.


10 inbusinessAPRIL/MAY 2021 New Class E: Commercial, business and services


including retail space (current use classes A1-A3), office space B1. Plus other uses including health centres, clinics, day centres, day nurseries, creches, gyms and most indoor recreations. New Class F1: Learning and non-residential


institutions including some former D1 uses e.g. schools, non-residential and education training centres, museums, libraries, public halls, exhibition halls, places of worship and law courts. New Class F2: Some former A1 retail uses (local convenience stores), halls, meeting places,


The Planning Use Classes have been overhauled


swimming pools, skating rinks, outdoor recreation. Sui Generis: None of the above - to include


pubs or drinking establishments (currently A4) and takeaways (A5) plus cinemas, concert and bingo halls. All B2 (industrial) and B8 uses (storage and


distribution) are unchanged, as are former C class uses covering residential, hotels and guesthouses.


To discuss the implications for your property on these changes, contact Andrew Barr at ahb@robinsonandhall.co.uk


region to complete this survey to help your Chamber to create an accurate picture of the current landscape.


For further information about the QES visit www.chambermk.co.uk/represent ation/quarterly-economic-surveys


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