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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/global/2013/sep/02/retail-chains-levy-revive-high-streets
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| Large retail chains urged to pay levy to help revive high streets | Large retail chains urged to pay levy to help revive high streets |
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| Major retail and leisure chains should pay a one-off levy on UK sales to help revive the high street, according to Bill Grimsey, the veteran retail boss, who will front a review into the plight of town centres this week. | Major retail and leisure chains should pay a one-off levy on UK sales to help revive the high street, according to Bill Grimsey, the veteran retail boss, who will front a review into the plight of town centres this week. |
| Grimsey, who previously fronted the now defunct DIY chain Focus and the Iceland frozen food store, is leading a group of industry experts who have put together an alternative review to a previous effort by Mary Portas, the self-styled Queen of Shops. | |
| Portas is to appear in front of a parliamentary committee on Monday to provide an update on progress since her review, which launched nearly two years ago. She appears amid frustration that high streets continue to suffer during the economic downturn as national chains pull out and supermarkets continue to expand. | Portas is to appear in front of a parliamentary committee on Monday to provide an update on progress since her review, which launched nearly two years ago. She appears amid frustration that high streets continue to suffer during the economic downturn as national chains pull out and supermarkets continue to expand. |
| Grimsey is calling on national chains with a turnover of more than £10m to invest 0.25% of one year's UK sales from 2014, or about £550m between them, into a local economic development fund to help sponsor startups and new ventures that could entice shoppers back to local high streets. | Grimsey is calling on national chains with a turnover of more than £10m to invest 0.25% of one year's UK sales from 2014, or about £550m between them, into a local economic development fund to help sponsor startups and new ventures that could entice shoppers back to local high streets. |
| The fund would dwarf the £18m the government has spent so far on high street initiatives including 24 "Portas Pilots" which each received £100,000 grants to improve their town centres. | The fund would dwarf the £18m the government has spent so far on high street initiatives including 24 "Portas Pilots" which each received £100,000 grants to improve their town centres. |
| "I honestly think the time has come for the big chains to put something back and help re-design the high street," said Grimsey. "What we've seen in a lot of secondary town centre locations is that as the chains move out to more lucrative out-of-town sites they're hollowing out the high street." | "I honestly think the time has come for the big chains to put something back and help re-design the high street," said Grimsey. "What we've seen in a lot of secondary town centre locations is that as the chains move out to more lucrative out-of-town sites they're hollowing out the high street." |
| Grimsey said a central fund could be overseen by independent trustees that would include some of the biggest contributors. | Grimsey said a central fund could be overseen by independent trustees that would include some of the biggest contributors. |
| The call for a levy on major retail and leisure chains is one of 31 recommendations to feature in the Grimsey-led review of the high street, including a call to revamp of the business rates system. | The call for a levy on major retail and leisure chains is one of 31 recommendations to feature in the Grimsey-led review of the high street, including a call to revamp of the business rates system. |
| There is growing pressure on the Treasury to adapt the property-led rates system to reflect a changing retail environment in which major players can exist without stores while small businesses on local high streets are suffering. The British Retail Consortium has called for a complete overhaul of the system after a string of major retail failures this year. | There is growing pressure on the Treasury to adapt the property-led rates system to reflect a changing retail environment in which major players can exist without stores while small businesses on local high streets are suffering. The British Retail Consortium has called for a complete overhaul of the system after a string of major retail failures this year. |
| The government has responded by doubling small business rate relief for three-and-a-half years but the Grimsey review will call for a two-year 50% discount on rates for businesses taking on high street premises that have been empty for 12 months or more and a freeze on rates in 2014. | The government has responded by doubling small business rate relief for three-and-a-half years but the Grimsey review will call for a two-year 50% discount on rates for businesses taking on high street premises that have been empty for 12 months or more and a freeze on rates in 2014. |