Communities Minister Bob Neill has ‘suggested’ that the government could reinstate business rates relief on empty property.

However, it would only be able to do so if there was a full economic recovery.

Last month Neill announced that the threshold for vacant property exempt from paying rates could be reduced from property with a rateable value of £18,000 to £2,600 from 1 April.

“It is not totally off the agenda. The sooner we see the benefits of economic recovery, the sooner we will be able to remove it. We will never say never and we keep all taxes under review. We have sympathy for everyone involved.”

“Our department and the Treasury want to work with the industry. We are trying to do the best we can with the hand we have been dealt. The previous changes did create a problem but our ability to change them back will have revenue implications.”

The government is to embark on a review of local government resources this month that will run until July.

Although empty rates relief is unlikely to be reinstated as a result, the review is expected to clarify plans for business rates to be redistributed locally.

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