Retailers look to quit high street in face of rising rates

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ALAN SIMPSON

gap-toothed town centres with vacant retail units, the fact is that there are now new and often less expensive routes to market for retailers and other firms than simply maintaining a bricks and mortar presence, such as trading online.”

“There is an urgent need to recast business rates for the decade ahead, in order to deliver a reformed system which is modern, sustainable and competitive.”

Rateable values are changing for the first time since 2010 after a national revaluation by The Scottish Assessors’ Association.

Some firms would have seen increases of up to 400 per cent in the amount they have to pay, with the hospitality and licensed trade worst affected.

Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said in February bill rises would be capped at 12.5 per cent next year for hotels, pubs, clubs,