Vale of White Horse District Council
Abbey House, Abbey Close,
Abingdon, OX14 3JE
Email: comments@whitehorsedc.gov.uk
Telephone: 01235 520202

Vale of White Horse District Council

Rate relief for businesses in rural areas

Certain types of business in designated rural settlements, with a population below 3,000, may qualify for 50 per cent rate relief under the rural rate relief scheme.

Businesses that qualify for this relief include:

• The only general store
• The only post office or any food store with a rateable value of up to £7,000
• The sole public house or the sole petrol filling station with a rateable value of up to £10,500.

Local councils have discretion to give further relief on the remaining bill on such properties.

The Council can also decide to give relief to any other business with a rateable value of up to £14,000 within the designated rural settlement if it is satisfied that the business is of benefit to the local community.

For more details on the eligibility criteria and on how to apply please see the guidance notes and application on the right of the page. Alternatively you can contact the Business Rates Section - see the contact details on the right.