The Autumn Statement, in which Chancellor George Osborne froze business rates increases at 2 per cent for the next two years, took a significant amount of pressure off small retail businesses operating commercial properties in town centres. However, the... Read More
Ballymena has the highest proportion of empty shops in Northern Ireland, according to a new report. The town's vacancy rate has jumped from 17 per cent to 27 per cent over the past 12 months. The figures have been disputed by the head of the local... Read More
For the first time the true cost of business rates on empty commercial properties has been revealed. A report released this week by the Taxpayers’ Alliance shows that, nationally, the figure for 2011-2012 was a massive £1.1 billion – a rise of 19 per... Read More
