The chancellor has been urged to scrap an increase in business rates in the Autumn Budget, following warnings it will add more than £536m to the business rates burden.
Altus Group said a 1.7% uprating for inflation would cost businesses an extra £536.03m in England next year if implemented.
The retail sector would face a £136.92m hike despite the ongoing high street crisis.
Alex Probyn, UK president of expert services at Altus Group, said: ‘The compound effect of annual inflationary rises are completely unsupportive of UK businesses. Revenue from rates has risen by almost a third in England, up by £6.04bn a year, during the last decade. Firms would greatly benefit from respite from increasing property taxes that are both uncompetitive, and the highest across Europe.
‘Business want and expect the chancellor to deliver a pro business Autumn Budget amid these uncertain times and Sajid Javid could do that, in part, by being the first chancellor in history to scrap the inflationary rise next year.’
