The Welsh Government has announced plans to reduce business rates for approximately 20,000 commercial properties with rateable values below £51,000 from next year, by raising rates for those valued at more than £100,000.

The 30 percent reduction would apply to businesses such as pubs, cafés, gyms, hotels, and theatres, and is expected to represent a £30m drop in bills each year, however the Welsh Retail Consortium called for a more unified approach.

“The business rates reduction for the smallest hospitality and leisure firms is encouraging and a positive move to support Welsh high streets,” said head of the WRC Sara Jones. “However, we would have liked to have seen a much more ambitious approach from Welsh ministers with retailers of all sizes benefitting from a rates regime which is at least as competitive as that which applies in England.”

“The forthcoming Budget provides the Finance Minister with an opportunity to address this disparity.”

What about the arcades?

So big question for the Welsh government: will it address the deep disparity?

It is understood that AGCs, arcades and FECs – one of  the mainstay business sectors keeping Welsh high streets alive – will not be included among the beneficiaries. According to reports, when questioned in the Senedd about grant relief for arcades, Welsh Ministers “explicitly stated there were no plans to amend eligibility criteria to include them”.

Now it’s in the hands of Welsh Finance Minister Elin Jones – are she going to push for equality on the high street?