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Rural Rate Relief
Rural Rate Relief is available to businesses situated within a rural settlement (a settlement with a population below 3,000) that meet the qualifying criteria.
There are two elements to rural rate relief.
Mandatory Rural Rate Relief
A Post Office or general store with a rateable value below £7,000 and which is the only one of its type within the rural settlement, is entitled to 50% relief.
These provisions were extended in April 2001 to include the sole public house or petrol filling station within a rural settlement with a rateable value below £10,500.
In addition from August 2001, the scheme is extended to include qualifying village food shops. They will be able to receive 50% mandatory rate relief.
Qualifying food shops are those stores with a rateable value of up to £7,000 that are located in a qualifying rural settlement and sell food for human consumption. Under the Act, "food for human consumption" excludes confectionery and catering such as takeaways.
Also from August 2001 all new small non-agricultural businesses on farms with rateable values of up to £7,000, whether or not operated by the farmer, will receive mandatory 50% rate relief for up to 5 years.
Businesses that are granted Mandatory relief can also apply for discretionary rate relief.
Discretionary Rural Rate Relief
Any rural business that has a rateable value below £14,000 and is located in a rural settlement can apply for rural rate relief.
The council has the discretion to grant up to 100% discretionary rate relief. Any relief granted will be reviewed after three years.
For further details or an application form contact;
Telephone: 01462 474668
Fax: 01462 474496