Discretionary business rates relief for pop-up shops

Applications

The application form in Appendix A (below) must be completed by the prospective pop-up shop tenant before the commencement of occupation in the property being used as a pop-up shop. In considering applications that meet the above essential criteria, priority consideration will be given to the following factors:

  • The impact of the business on the local community and environment, is the business one that the council feels is desirable to have in the area
  • Whether the organisation provides new or more choice to local people and will be advertised locally
  • Whether the organisation currently has or plans to provide continue the business if the pop-up period is successful
  • Businesses that have obtained a landlord contribution, such as one month rent free or a discounted rental

Notes on application process: 

An applicant may not be expected to deliver against all of these.

General enquires about the scheme can be made to our customer services, who will take a message and get an appropriate member of staff to contact you.

The council will cap the total amount of relief in any one financial year (1 April to 31 March) at £250,000. Any applications that take the total amount of relief will be asked to either postpone their tenancy or agree to pay the business rates and applications are assessed on a first come first served basis. We will be giving 100% business rates relief to a maximum of £20,000 for the period of the pop-up shop tenancy for any single application.

Is planning consent required for a pop-up shop?

If a pop-up retail shop is proposed for an existing retail unit (including shops, cafes and financial services) or office unit at ground floor level, it is unlikely that there will be a requirement for a change of use planning application, with these uses falling within the same planning use class (Class E). However, a standalone pop-up unit may require planning permission depending on the location of the unit and the length of the lease. Proposals for hot food takeaways will require planning permission. 

Before embarking on a pop-up shop project, you may like to contact the council’s Planning service for some advice and guidance on how planning consent relates to pop-up shops.

Appendix A - application

Key criteria considered by the council in awarding up to 100% discretionary relief (to a maximum of £20,000) for up to six months are:

  1. The establishment of a new business or company within the Castle Street/Stockwell Head area of Hinckley or council owned units within the Crescent shopping centre
  2. Consideration will be given to other areas in the borough where a shop has stood empty for at least 12 months
  3. The business is a new physically based business that has not traded from a business rated premises in the past 24 months prior to application
  4. The business is open to members of the public
  5. Is an independent trader
  6. Can obtain some level of financial contribution form the landlord, such as a rent-free period or discounted rent
  7. The business is not a business that is connected to the landlord in any way (for example, the landlord is a director or close relative of the tenant)

Apply for discretionary business rates relief for pop-up shops

If you require the application form in an alternative format, please contact Ashley Wilson, email: ashley.wilson@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk

Last updated: 19/04/2023 11:09