The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has called on the Chancellor to reform business rates ahead of the Autumn Budget.
In a letter written to Rachel Reeves, the trade association said urgent changes were needed to “help local shops invest in their long-term sustainability”.
Figures from the 2025 Local Shop Report found jobs, investment and sales in the sector have all been hit over the last year.
The letter outlines the challenges facing c-stores as a result of “increased cost of employment and rising burden of business rates”, costing the sector an additional £612m this year, said the ACS.
The ACS set out a series of measures that are needed to give local shops stability:
- Set the new Retail and Hospitality rate multiplier at 20p lower than current levels
- Increase the thresholds for small business rate relief in line with increases in property values
- Extend reliefs for stores that invest in their businesses from 12 months to three years
- Exclude CCTV systems from business rate valuations
ACS chief executive James Lowman said: “Our members are currently weathering a storm of increased costs in their businesses, with more to come in April when their rates bills will inevitably go up as a result of the latest revaluation. We are calling on the Chancellor to make clear that this Government supports local shops and recognises their potential as engines of local growth.”
The letter to the Chancellor is available here.
Last month, a group of 60 leading retailers and trade bodies called for tax reforms ahead of the Budget.
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