Retail Rate Relief

At the Budget on 3 March 2021, the chancellor announced that the government would provide additional business rates support for eligible retail, hospitality, leisure, and nursery businesses in England occupying a qualifying property.

As a temporary measure for 2021/22 he announced that:

• The Expanded Retail Discount (2020/21) will be extended for three months for eligible properties, at 100% relief, uncapped, for the period 1 April 2021 to 30 June 2021.
• From 1 July 2021 to 31 March 2022, the Expanded Retail Discount would apply at 66% relief for eligible properties in the scheme, with a cash cap of £2m for businesses that were required to close as at 5 January 2021, and up to £105,000 for business permitted to open at that date.
• The Nursery Discount 2021 would also be extended for three months, at 100%, uncapped, for the period 1 April 2021 to 30 June 2021.
• From 1 July 2021 to 31 March 2022 the Nursery Discount would apply at 66% relief for eligible properties, with a cash cap of £105,000.
• For the Expanded Retail Discount 2021/22 and Nursery Discount 2021/22, businesses may choose to opt out of support by providing billing authorities notification of their request to refuse support, per eligible hereditament.

In line with government recommendations, the existing reliefs have been extended to 2021/22.

As the relief has been granted under Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 it is confirmed that the award is for three months only, although it will show for the whole financial year on the opening bill. and an amended bill will be issued to reflect the subsequent changes to the scheme from 1 July 2021.

Applications for this scheme were required by 30 September 2022.