£10,000 sweetener offered to new shops
New firms taking up shops in three Staffordshire towns will be offered a £10,000 business rate holiday, under plans to use Mary Portas cash to revive high streets.
Bosses today revealed plans to use cash they won through the high street guru's Innovation Fund, in a contest which was open to the whole UK. They have been welcomed by the Chamber of Commerce.
Cannock Chase Council is offering to pay the first year's business rates for businesses who take on empty units in the district's three town centres: Cannock, Rugeley, and Hednesford.
The Town Centre Business Rates Discount Scheme is how the council is using the £100,000 that was awarded from the Government's High Street Innovation Fund, commonly known as Mary Portas funding.
A business that meets the essential criteria will receive a 100 per cent discount on their business rates for the first 12 months, or a £10,000 contribution – whichever is lower.
The council also wants to work with landlords to reduce the number of empty units and is encouraging them, as part of the scheme, to match the business rates discount or offer firms a rent-free period.
Betting shops, charity shops, off-licences and businesses located in a market or trading a market-style operation are not eligible under the terms of the scheme.
John Lamb, a spokesman for Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce said: "I think it's a very innovative idea for the current climate, where there are many empty shops at shopping centres across the West Midlands.
"Any way of keeping the town centres vibrant has to be supported and it would be nice to see some independent retailers as they give town centres their identity.
