A powerful coalition of Scotland's leading retailers has issued a stark warning to the Scottish Government: town centres face a wave of permanent closures unless urgent action is taken to slash business rates in next week's Budget.
Plea for a Level Playing Field
A group of 37 prominent retail chains and trade bodies has united behind a campaign demanding a permanent reduction in business rates for shops. They are calling for support that at least matches the system in England, where most retailers will benefit from a permanent discount from April, equivalent to a 10% cut for shops.
The supporters include major names such as The Entertainer, Dobbies Garden Centres, Schuh, and The House of Bruar, alongside business improvement districts representing thousands of firms. Andrew Murphy, Chief Executive of The Entertainer, stated that the English move allows businesses to invest and retain staff, but warned of a growing competitive disadvantage. "Despite the loud calls from across the business community, there is as yet no indication that Shona Robison, the Finance Secretary, is prepared to level the playing field with England," he said.
"Eye-Watering" Revaluation Threatens Viability
Ministers are also under intense pressure to halt a planned revaluation of business premises, which is set to trigger catastrophic increases in bills for some firms. The Scottish Chambers of Commerce revealed specific cases, including:
- A rural hospitality firm in the Highlands facing a rise from £6,000 in 2020 to a projected £30,000 from April.
- A recreation business in Falkirk warning of a 75% increase to £350,000, a hike that puts 50 local jobs at immediate risk.
Liz Cameron, Director of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, emphasised the widespread danger: "In the current business environment sudden increases of this scale – in some cases approaching 300 per cent – are simply unaffordable... The message from our members is stark: there will be job losses if these increases go ahead unchecked."
Political Pressure Mounts Ahead of Budget
The Scottish Retail Consortium's director, David Lonsdale, urged the Finance Secretary to heed the "growing chorus of voices" and act to protect high streets. The Scottish Conservatives added their weight to the calls, with finance spokesman Craig Hoy stating: "SNP ministers need to wake up to the magnitude of the crisis... Rates rises on this scale are completely unaffordable and delusional. If they go ahead, it will be game over and thousands of Scottish jobs will be lost."
A Scottish Government spokesman responded, saying: "Decisions on non-domestic rates for 2026/27 will be set out in the Scottish Budget next week. We will continue to work closely with businesses to drive economic growth and prosperity in our towns, cities and communities." With the Budget announcement imminent, retailers across Scotland are waiting to see if their urgent plea for survival will be answered.
