British Marine has joined with Family Business UK in opposing the Chancellor’s plans to slash Business Property Relief & Agricultural Property Relief on Inheritance Tax from April 2026.

In addition to making representations to the Treasury, British Marine is encouraging its members to use the template provided to write to their own MPs. As discussed in the recent Member webinar, unless the Government can be persuaded to rethink its approach, family run marine businesses with qualifying assets above £1m, will face inheritance tax at 20%.  For some, this unexpected punitive tax will not only disrupt their succession plans but could make the continuation of their business simply unviable. 

• Open Letter to the Chancellor - View
• Write to your MP Template - Business Property Relief on Inheritance Tax - Download
• Guidance for British Marine Members on MP Visits - View
• British Marine Press Release - View
• Watch again - Members' Webinar on planned changes to Business Property Relief on Inheritance Tax.

On 25 March 2025 British Marine had the pleasure of joining other colleagues from the Seabed User and Developer’s to talk to a host of stakeholders and parliamentarians at the Group’s 2025 Parliamentary Reception, kindly sponsored by the Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP, Chairman of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee and held inside the Palace of Westminster. 

This was a timely opportunity to talk to MPs, not least because the Planning and Infrastructure Bill had just completed its Second Reading before commencing its detailed scrutiny in the Committee Stage.  The legislation is relevant to our sector as it proposes to simplify  a range of planning practices, including procedures for marine licensing and to grant powers to change fees for harbour orders, considered essential for port construction and marine expansion projects.   Collaboration with SUDG partners is important, especially with the increase in offshore wind and DEFRA’s forthcoming Marine Recovery Fund which we understand will provide wind developers with an optional mechanism to finance strategic compensatory measures to support coordinated efforts that protect and enhance marine biodiversity. It may also include the creation or expansion of Marine Protected Areas and targeted habitat restoration. 

British Marine’s priority is to work with partners, such as other members of SUDG, and with government to ensure an appropriate balance is maintained between economic development and safeguarding the quality of, and access to, our seas by leisure boaters and other watersports enthusiasts.   We were delighted that the Minister for Water and Flooding spared time to address the reception and in doing so referenced the importance of the leisure marine industry to the wider economy.

For further information please contact our Public Affairs lead, Joanna Richardson jrichardson@britishmarine.co.uk 

Our specialist team are on hand to run through any regulatory/legislative changes with our members at any time.

We work hard to ensure that the best interests of our members are heard. We can build a case with our members to reflect potential government changes and when we need to, we can bring our industry together, adding weight to our lobbying efforts.

Network with regional and group associations to hear from other likeminded businesses who have used the service or use these sessions to work together collectively to create change.