The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has revealed its wish list for next week’s Budget, with an extension to business rates relief a top priority. Bira is appealing to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak to consider the independent retail sector when he presents his Budget on Wednesday (March 3).
The three measures Bira would like to see in the Budget are:
- Extension of the rates holiday for the whole of 2021/22 to support businesses while they return to return to normal when consumer confidence is fully restored
- Extension of the legal moratorium preventing landlords from taking action against tenants unable to meet rent demands. This is due to end on March 31
- Extension of the furlough scheme as businesses reopen to lower footfall to begin with
Andrew Goodacre, Bira CEO, said: “We have previously campaigned regarding extending the terms for the various loans offered by the Government, and changes were made a couple of weeks ago. We hope the Chancellor continues to listen to us and protect businesses, livelihood and jobs as we look to recover from more than a year of disruption.”
