Member Article

Empty premises rates boost for Manchester businesses

Businesses moving into empty premises could get their business rates bills cut in half under new plans aimed at revitalising Manchester’s neighbourhoods.

Manchester City Council is asking companies and individuals that benefit their local areas to contact them and apply for a 50 per cent discount on their rates bills.

To qualify for the discount, the businesses need to be moving into buildings which have been empty for 12 months or more, but which were originally used as shops or other retail premises.

Businesses which move into these premises between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2016 may be able to qualify for the 18 month discount.

The City Council will decide whether or not to award the discount, based on whether the business provides a service that benefits the local community, but they have stated that betting shops, payday loan companies and pawn brokers will not be eligible.

The scheme was adopted by the City Council following last month’s executive meeting, after the government gave local authorities the powers to grant relief to ratepayers in certain circumstances.

The discounts will not affect the City Council’s own finances, as the government will pay back any money which is lost under the scheme.

Cllr Jeff Smith, Manchester City Council’s executive member for finance, said: “This will provide an excellent boost for people setting up new businesses or planning on doing so, while it will also encourage companies to move into properties which have been sitting empty for more than a year.

“This is going to help revitalise streets across our city by helping put an end to empty premises which often blight neighbourhoods, while it will also help provide residents with local shops and services that benefit their communities. I would urge anyone moving into an empty business premises to contact us and find out whether their company is eligible.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .