// London Mayor Sadiq Khan calls for extension on business rates holiday for retailers
// The current holiday will finish at the end of March 2021
// An extension will provide a “lifeline” to businesses in London ahead of second lockdown
London Mayor Sadiq Khan is calling on the UK government for an extension to the current business rates holiday for retailers.
Khan has written to housing secretary Robert Jenrick to call for the extension.
The current holiday will finish at the end of March 2021.
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In a joint letter with the chair of London Councils, Khan said an extension will provide a “lifeline” to businesses in London.
From Thursday, all non-essential retailers in England will temporarily shut their doors as a result of rising Covid-19 cases across the country.
Non essential services will close for a month, along with gyms, cinemas, hospitality venues and places of worship.
The London Mayor also called for support via the Local Restrictions Support Grant and Discretionary Grants.
This would support businesses forced to close under England’s new lockdown measures or who have suffered a fall in income due to the pandemic.
Khan asked for these to be tailored appropriately to account for the rental and rateable values in London.
In September, Khan had urged the UK Government to extend the business rates holiday for another year over fears thousands of jobs could be lost in London and across the country.
After the pandemic hit the UK, business rates for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England were halted for the current 2020/21 financial year.
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