National commercial property consultancy Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) has called for retailers to work together to create a single industry voice on business rates.
While there is value in the self-appointed actions of Mary Portas and Bill Grimsey continuing to lock horns with the government on the question of rating reform, the retail industry should agree upon its core demands for change.
With the 2015 general election now firmly on the political horizon, the government is unlikely to agree to alteration of its taxation strategy in response to one individual’s well-meaning opinion.
Richard Wackett, National Head of Business Rates at LSH, said: “It’s encouraging that beyond the vision of a networked high street with free parking and some joined-up planning, the primary focus of both reports is business rates.
“If Grimsey and Portas could align the opinions of Topshop, M&S, John Lewis, Boots and the like into a single voice, then perhaps the government would sit-up and take note”.