THE GOVERNMENT has announced that a revaluation of business rates will no longer take place in 2021, to help reduce uncertainty for firms affected by COVID-19.

Legislation had been introduced to bring the next revaluation forward by one year from 2022 to 2021, but following the economic impacts of the virus, ministers want to ensure businesses have more certainty.

Craven District Council Leader, Richard Foster, said: “We welcome this announcement. This is a very difficult time for local businesses and we need to give them all the support they need.

“Our Council staff have been working incredibly hard to pay out Government grants to those businesses who are eligible and will continue to do so. We are also collecting information about further support they need and we will be pressing their case with the Government in the coming weeks and months.”