All Policy & legal articles – Page 29
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AnalysisThe Big Question: Will raising rates on warehouses really save the high street?
After chancellor Rishi Sunak delayed the findings of the Treasury’s business rates review until the autumn, we ask experts whether the proposal from Dixons Carphone boss Alex Baldock and Next chief executive Lord Wolfson to increase rates paid by warehouses is the way to revamp the system
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AnalysisAnalysis: What’s the best alternative to the broken business rates system?
Everyone seems to agree the UK’s outdated business rates are broken and its many detractors claim the system is crippling hopes of retail recovery post-lockdown. Yet there is less unanimity about finding a fairer alternative, as Mark Faithfull discovers.
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AnalysisAnalysis: Retail’s wishlist for the chancellor ahead of the Budget
Following a year of unprecedented financial pain brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, retailers lay out what they would like to see in Wednesday’s Budget.
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VideoRetail Question Time with Theo Paphitis and Richard Walker
In the first edition of our new video series Retail Question Time, Ryman, Robert Dyas and Boux Avenue owner Theo Paphitis and Iceland managing director Richard Walker discuss government aid for the industry during the pandemic, business rates reform, their hopes for next week’s Budget – and why they both oppose high-speed rail link HS2.
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AnalysisRetailers wary of April 12 timeframe for store reopening
Retailers have voiced disappointment that they will not be able to fully open their doors again before April 12 and concerns about the possibility of the post-lockdown timeframe changing again.
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NewsOnline retailers launch new trade body to champion ecomm cause
Big-name pureplay retailers have formed an industry association to highlight their contribution to UK success and fight their corner – including on tax.
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NewsNon-essential retail to open on April 12 if Covid conditions met
Non-essential retailers will be allowed to reopen shops in April, alongside gyms, hairdressers and outdoor hospitality, if strict conditions are met, according to plans set out by the prime minister.
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NewsM&S boss Rowe hits out at ‘unbearable’ business rates burden
Marks & Spencer boss Steve Rowe has warned that the “unbearable yoke” of business rates will spark thousands more job losses unless the tax is overhauled by the government.
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AnalysisThe Big Question: Will Oxford Street regeneration plans revive retail’s fortunes?
Earlier this week, Westminster City Council unveiled a £150m strategy to revamp Oxford Street
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NewsAmazon embroiled in fresh zero-hour contract controversy
Amazon is at the centre of a fresh storm over the use of zero-hour contracts for temporary workers.
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NewsNext boss calls for business rates reform as Sunak delays government review
Next boss Lord Wolfson has called for business rates on high street stores to be slashed by a third to stem the tide of store closures.
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OpinionThe Keynote: High streets – the radical rethink needed to build back better
The closure of Debenhams and Arcadia stores has once more thrust the health of high streets and town centres into the spotlight.
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NewsRetailer anger follows call with ‘rude’ business secretary Kwarteng
Retailers’ relations with new business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng have got off to a rocky start after a bad-tempered call this week.
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NewsOxford Street plans climbable hill to lure shoppers back to district
Westminster City Council has unveiled plans to build a 25-metre tall climbable hill overlooking Marble Arch in a bid to lure shoppers back to Oxford Street once lockdown ends.
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OpinionSacha Newall: ‘Regulation is the only cure for fashion retail’s bad apples’
The Covid pandemic has been catastrophic for bricks-and-mortar retailers in most, if not all, sectors but certainly in my industry, fashion.
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NewsArcadia property sales raise hopes for retailer’s pensioners
Pensioners at Sir Philip Green’s collapsed Arcadia fashion empire may receive more from their savings than originally feared, following property disposals.
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NewsAlarm sounded over hit to high streets from residential developments
Relaxed rules on the conversion of commercial property to housing could threaten the health of town centres, the government has been warned.
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NewsTed Baker warns of £5m Brexit bill as festive sales slide
Ted Baker has warned it faces £5m of additional costs associated with Britain’s exit from the EU as it grapples to revive its fortunes.
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NewsRetailers lose £22bn in sales during coronavirus lockdowns
Retailers lost £22bn in sales last year after nationwide lockdowns decimated the performance of physical stores.
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AnalysisThe Big Question: How should business rates be reformed?
Ahead of the Budget on March 3, the thorny issue of business rates has again hit the headlines, with a joint letter, spearheaded by Tesco, calling for a digital tax to be levied on pureplays. Retail Week asks experts what can be done to make business rates fairer?