Retail Discount Scheme
At the Autumn Statement on 22 November 2023, the Chancellor announced that the 2024/25 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure (RHL) Business Rates Relief scheme will provide a 75% relief to eligible ratepayers, up to a cash cap limit of £110,000 per business. The relief is applied after mandatory reliefs and any other discretionary reliefs have been applied.
The full local authority guidance can be found:
Business Rates Relief: 2024/25 Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Examples of what the government consider shops, restaurants, cafes and drinking establishments to mean include:
Sale of goods: Shops (florist, bakers, butchers, grocers etc.) Charity shops, Opticians, Post Offices, Petrol Stations, Car/Caravan showrooms, Furnishing shops/display rooms.
Premises used for the provision of certain services: Hair and beauty services, shoe repairs/key cutting, travel agents, Funeral directors, Tool hire, Car hire, Dry cleaners, Launderettes, PC/TV domestic appliance repair.
Sale of food and drink: Restaurants, Takeaways, Sandwich Shops, Coffee shops, Pubs, Bars
These lists are not intended to be exhaustive, and the Council will determine those cases where eligibility for the relief is unclear on a case-by-case basis. The Council may ask for further information to support an application.
Businesses already in receipt of RHL Relief 2023/24 for more than one premises within England and Wales and wish to accept the relief must complete Form A – Within the Threshold.
This is a declaration that you comply with the combined cash cap of £110,000 and have not exceeded the Minimal Financial Assistance limit of £315,000 over 3 years (including 2023/24)
Businesses in receipt of RHL Relief from North Warwickshire Borough Council and have exceeded the cash cap on other properties, or have received more than the Minimal Financial Assistance limit of £315,000 over 3 years (including 2023/24) must complete Form B – Refusal.
To submit a completed form, or if you think that your business qualifies and wish to apply for RHL Relief, please email: businessrates@northwarks.gov.uk, or write to us at: Business Rates, The Council House, South Street, Atherstone, CV9 1DE.
New applicants must confirm that your business meets the requirements of this scheme, you also need to declare that you have not exceeded the subsidy limits set (see below).
Subsidy Control
The Retail Hospitality and Leisure Scheme is likely to amount to subsidy.
Any relief provided by Local Authorities under this scheme will need to comply with the UK’s domestic and international subsidy control obligations.
To claim the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief you must not have exceeded either the £110,000 cash cap for 2024/25 or the Minimal Financial Assistance Limit of £315,000 over three years, including 2024/25.
Recipients of Retail Discount are required to inform the council if they are in receipt of any sum above the Subsidy control limit. More information can be found on the Government’s Subsidy control web page .