Taking place against a backdrop of political uncertainty for the Labour party, the programme nevertheless contains policies relevant to businesses across the West End, with potential implications for the district’s trading environment, planning context and visitor economy.
Below is a summary of the Bills and policy commitments most significant to the West End and its business community, highlighting the measures likely to influence how the district operates, drives growth and attracts visitors over the coming year.
National Security Bill
The Government will bring forward legislation in direct response to the Southport attack to protect the public from extreme violence. For the West End, this is among the most operationally significant announcements in the programme.
Oxford Street and the wider West End constitute one of the highest-footfall public spaces in the UK – any new primary duties or guidance on crowded place security will apply directly to New West End Company’s public realm operations and those of our members. Any new obligations will be shared as they emerge.
The Bill is likely to build on the Protect Duty framework (Martyn’s Law), which received Royal Assent in 2025, and may introduce enhanced requirements for hostile vehicle mitigation, event licensing conditions and coordination with Counter Terrorism Security Officers.
We will: engage proactively with the Home Office and Metropolitan Police as the Bill is developed, drawing on our extensive operational knowledge and security partnerships.
Police Reform Bill
Significant reforms to policing have been confirmed through the Police Reform Bill, although no specific measures have yet been announced. This will be an important piece of legislation for New West End Company to monitor, as the direction of reform could directly affect the West End’s safety and security model – particularly in relation to neighbourhood policing structures, anti-social behaviour powers, and the framework governing Business Crime Reduction Partnerships.
The Crime and Policing Act 2026, which received Royal Assent prior to prorogation, already introduces Respect Orders and strengthened retail crime provisions. The Police Reform Bill may build on this, or address structural questions about resourcing and local deployment.
No specific legislation on Live Facial Recognition (LFR) was confirmed in the programme. We remain of the view that proportionate, regulated use of LFR technology in high-footfall public spaces can be an important tool in tackling serious and persistent retail crime.
We will: continue to track the Bill’s development and maintain active engagement with the Metropolitan Police on operational priorities in the West End.
Overnight Accommodation Levy
The Overnight Accommodation Levy, introduced through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 which received Royal Assent at prorogation, is now on the statute book. No further primary legislation on the levy appears in the new programme. The focus has shifted to the design and implementation of the scheme, including the regulations and guidance that will determine its scope, the designation of eligible areas and the conditions governing revenue use.
We will: seek active engagement with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and Westminster City Council on the secondary legislation and implementation framework, calling for a design reflective of the needs of high street destinations.
Looking ahead, driving growth remains our central focus. The West End is one of the UK’s economic powerhouses, and maintaining its success requires the right conditions for investment, business confidence and competitiveness. We will keep working with Government to champion pro-growth policies that stimulate the economy and support the West End’s long-term prosperity.
