Moves to encourage businesses to take over empty shops and breathe new life into Weymouth and Portland have been backed by councillors.
Weymouth & Portland Borough Council agreed that businesses should get money off their rates if they move into shops that have been empty for more than a year.
It is hoped that the introduction of Business Rates Reoccupation Relief, which was approved by the borough council’s Management Committee on 10 June, will attract new businesses and jobs to the area.
Cllr Colin Huckle, Weymouth & Portland Borough Council Finance and Assets Briefholder, said: “We are very keen to do all we can to support local businesses as they are the lifeblood of our communities.
“We want to help revitalise our town centre and the shops of our borough and I am very pleased we can help them.”
Under the Government-funded scheme, businesses that qualify will be given a 50 per cent discount on their rates for 18 months.
Business Rates Reoccupation Relief will be available to businesses that move into previously long term empty premises, which were mainly used for retail before they closed down.
In order to qualify, traders will need to have moved in between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2016. However, it will not be available to all businesses. Among those not qualifying will be betting shops, pay day loan companies and pawn brokers.
Help and information for anyone thinking of starting a business is available here: https://www.dorsetforyou.com/starting-a-new-business
More information about business rates is available here: https://www.dorsetforyou.com/business-rates
