Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact on non-mayoral visitor economies, including Bognor Regis and Littlehampton, of limiting powers to introduce an overnight visitor levy in England to Mayoral Strategic Authorities and any future Foundation Strategic Authorities.

West Sussex is a constituent member of the Sussex and Brighton Combined County Authority, which was formally established on 25 March 2026. Consequently, the towns of Bognor Regis and Littlehampton will benefit from a Mayoral Strategic Authority (MSA) for the region with the power to introduce an Overnight Visitor Levy (OVL). As set out in the Visitor Levy consultation document, the Government believes this power best sits with MSAs as Mayors hold the levers to drive local growth and have the mandate to make strategic decisions over a large geography. Evidence from other countries suggests that modest levies have a limited impact on visitor numbers and displacement.

In February, the Government invited all local authorities that do not currently have a devolution agreement to come forward with proposals for a Foundation Strategic Authority (FSA) across a sensible geography to ensure everywhere has access to the benefits of devolution. As you note, the Government has also consulted on whether to give the Visitor Levy power to FSAs, given they also hold levers to drive local growth and have strategic roles in economic development over a significant geographic area. The Government will publish the response to the consultation which ended on 18 February shortly