Discount retail chain backs online petition calling for rates revaluation
Discount retailer Poundland is backing a petition by Colliers International calling on the Government to scrap the planned postponement of the business rates revaluation.
Poundland said the decision to postpone the 2015 revaluation until 2017 was "reckless" given the decline of the retail market, adding it would only serve to continue the "injustice" of businesses paying pre-recessionary set rates.
The chain's national portfolio manager, Ben Wall, said: "Postponing the revaluation only serves to delay the structured recalibration of the high street, which is needed for it to survive. I strongly believe that the Government is making a reckless decision, given the fragile state of the retail sector.
"Our business relies upon the estimates of business rates during the period of the rating list, which are key to the financial models on which we base our decisions on opening new stores, relocating and extending existing properties.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013
"The postponement of the revaluation until 2017 will surely have unintended consequences and will mean that, in some situations, new store viability will be affected. Not only that, but with each new store employing around 30 people, our ability to create jobs will be significantly reduced."
The retailer, which has around 300 UK stores, warned the postponement could lead to more casualties on the high street, following the collapse of household names such as Clintons, Peacocks, JJB Sports and Comet.
Colliers ratings specialist, Ben Batchelor-Wylam said there was "no logic" behind the decision to delay the rating revaluation, saying: "Politics leading economics is fundamentally wrong.
"Poundland has obviously realised the postponement will impact on many retailers in High Streets across the West who are already struggling and facing financial hardship.
"The revaluation would give relief to a great many places where rents have fallen. To prohibit that liquidity is wrong."
The proposal to delay the 2015 rating revaluation until 2017 is one of a number of measures being put forward by the Department for Communities and Local Government as part of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill.
If implemented, businesses will continue to pay business rates based on property values in 2008, instead of current values, which are considerably less.
Mr Batchelor-Wylam added: "The Government seems determined to go ahead with the proposed plan but with enough pressure from business it will hopefully see sense and reverse what is frankly a ludicrous idea.
"This is not a fait accompli. With enough support and backing from business we can get the Government to scrap its plans to postpone the 2015 rating revaluation."
Colliers' e-petition can be accessed at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/41598. It said if the petition receives 100,000 signatures it will be considered for debate in the House of Commons.
Comments