Businesses seek rates reduction as traffic chaos continues

Some 40 businesses based on Pride Park in Derby have instructed FHP Property Consultants to submit a coordinated rates appeal due to the level of disruption caused by changes to the road layout in the area.

Peak time traffic has been significantly disrupted on Pride Park since a slip-road onto the A52 was closed during the summer, and recent flooding has added insult to injury for affected businesses.

Alastair Fearn, a director in FHP’s business rates team, believes there are grounds for a collective appeal – the desired outcome of which being a reduction in each company’s rates for the length of the disruption.

He said: “In my experience where an outside factor such as roadworks is causing significant and prolonged disruption there are grounds to make a successful challenge against the Rateable Value of the affected properties resulting in a rates reduction for the duration of the disruption.

“I have been successful elsewhere in the country achieving reductions for occupiers in similar circumstances. For example in Derby when the railway bridge on London Road was shut I was able to successfully argue for reductions for affected occupiers on both sides of the bridge and also in Nottingham when there was widespread disruption as a result of the construction of the Nottingham Tram System where I represented over 17 occupiers and gained significant reductions.”

FHP is now looking to hear from more affected companies before submitting an appeal towards the end of the year.