The Lothian Assessor has agreed to a proposal which will see a reduction in business rates for traders on Shandwick Place which is said to be as a result of work by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Trams team to support businesses along the route of the tram.
The news was welcomed by Cllr Lesley Hinds – the Transport Convener on the Council – who said: “I am pleased to hear that the Assessor has taken this decision, which will provide some financial relief to traders directly impacted by the tram works. The Council has been keen to do what we can to help businesses in this part of the city so it is good to have this result. While the decision only applies to those traders with frontages on Shandwick Place at this stage, we are optimistic that subsequent claims from traders in other parts of the city, who have been directly affected by the tram works, should deliver rates reductions for them as well. I would strongly encourage all traders who are on the tram route, and who believe the rental value of their business has been impacted by the tram works, to consider claiming an RV reduction. We will continue to support them to do so and this week we will be writing to all traders along the route of the trams, offering them guidance on how to make their claims.”
The rates reduction will apply to approximately 60 traders in Shandwick Place and will apply from the restart of works at this location this autumn until its completion on spring 2013. These traders have been written to by the Council Trams team informing me of
the steps they would need to take to get a reduction in their non domestic Rateable Value.