CLA calls for empty property relief extension to broadband not-spots
The CLA today (6 December) welcomed a Government announcement on the roll-out of community broadband but called for empty property relief from business rates to be extended indefinitely to premises where broadband is not available.
The Association said it was pleased by Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunts reported confirmation that 830 million will be made available over the next seven years for broadband, with the first phase creating rural broadband hubs in 40 market towns by the end of 2011.
CLA Deputy President Harry Cotterell said: We welcome the announcement of the Governments new strategy, Britains Superfast Broadband Future. The leap-frogging from rural hubs apparently being proposed to help rural communities receive fast broadband is something the CLA has been advocating for years. However, we would like to see more detail on these plans.
We are concerned that rural business premises which do not have broadband will not attract tenants. Some CLA members are already reporting that it is hard to let business premises which cannot get broadband. Therefore, we would like to see empty property relief from business rates extended indefinitely to premises where broadband cannot be installed.
The CLA Deputy President added that the Government should provide broadband grants to rural communities to encourage companies to invest in a broadband infrastructure.
He said: Every support should be given to rural communities to make sure their homes and businesses can afford to enter the digital age.
To download a copy of Britain’s Superfast Broadband Future please visit: http://www.bis.gov.uk/news/topstories/2010/Dec/superfast-broadband
The Country Land and Business Association (CLA) has around 35,000 members.
As a membership organisation, the CLA supports landowners by advising them on how best to protect and maximise their asset: the land. We are dedicated to supporting landowners and their businesses. Our success is measured by how effectively we do that. We have a team of experts in London and a regional structure able to give local support.
We have been looking after the interests of our members, as well as promoting the positive aspects of land ownership, land management and rural business activities for the past 100 years. CLA members own or manage approximately half the rural land in England and Wales, and the resulting expertise puts us in a unique position to formulate policies and lobby effectively.