VICTORY
Tories in £1.5bn boost for High St after Mirror’s fight Max’s Law on organs opt out gets £18m to promote it
PHILIP Hammond is set to announce a £1.5billion boost for our dying town centres in a major victory for the Mirror. The Tory Chancellor’s move comes amid pressure from our High Street Fightback campaign. And there was a second success for the Mirror yesterday as MPs passed Max’s Law and pledged £18million to raise awareness of the change. Our campaign for an opt-out organ donor system was fronted by
brave transplant patient Max Johnson, 10 – read more on Page 2.
It is understood Mr Hammond will use his Budget next week to announce a triple whammy of measures to help high streets.
Business rates will be cut by a third for 496,000 small retailers, in a move worth £900million.
The Tory Chancellor will also launch a £650million fund to transform town centres. And town planning laws will be relaxed.
It comes after our campaign urged the Government to take urgent action to save traditional shops and local businesses.
Minister Jake Berry MP said it had made a difference, adding: “The Mirror has really helped to get that wider drum beat going about how all of us have a duty to protect, support and create an environment in which we can foster high streets.”
SAVINGS
The business rate cut means a pub in Sheffield with a rateable value of £37,750 will save £6,178. And a newsagent in Moseley, Birmingham, with a rateable value of £14,250 will be £1,749 better off.
Robert Hayton, of property adviser Altus Group, said the move “will almost certainly make trading on the high street more attractive”.
Federation of Small Businesses head Mike Cherry added: “This is a welcome step in getting the urgent help all small businesses need.”
The second measure is a £650million Future High Streets Fund to improve infrastructure and transport access.
And Mr Hammond will look to relax planning rules, to support new mixed-use businesses and the conversion of underused retail units into offices and homes.