Retailers aided by government tax relief

Six months after it was rolled out, North West retailers are seeing the benefit of the Government’s new £1,000 business rates discount.

Introduced in April 2014, Over 27,000 retail premises from all over the North West qualify for this business rates windfall. This makes the North West’s share nearly 10% of the national total, with approximately 300,000 retail premises across the UK set to be recipients of the discount.

In the six months since the discount was introduced, the scheme has provided more than £272 million of tax relief for business premises across the country, applicable to local shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs with a rateable value up  to £50,000.

Additional figures specifically show how this support will benefit the North West, with 3,290 premises in Manchester, 2,000 in Salford, and 1,270 in Bolton all receiving £1,000 of relief.

High streets minister Penny Mordaunt said that the retail discount was part of a wider £1 billion package of targeted tax breaks designed to support high street retailers.

Stuart Hicks, managing director and rating director of Dunlop Heywood Property Consultants in Manchester said:

“The North West overall has fared okay with the major conurbations all enjoying significant numbers of businesses receiving the hand-out. However, when you look at the size of the region compared to others and the south east in particular, then 9% of the overall total doesn’t seem very much.

“It is interesting to see somewhere like well-to-do Kensington and Chelsea has 1,760 retail premises gaining the allowance, compared to Rochdale at 800 and Burnley at 430 – so combined they don’t match this small London borough.

“Likewise, you have Epping Forest on the outskirts of London, which is over 90% greenbelt, having 750 premises included, compared to St Helens with 580. I would like to see more North West retail landlords making the most of this opportunity so the money can be injected into the regional economy overall through a stronger retail sector.”

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Words: Peter Cribley

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