Robert Brown, partner in our business rates team, considers the impact of the Autumn Statement.

Robert said: “Some of the eye-catching announcements in Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond’s first Autumn Statement were those relating to technology.

As well as allocating £1 billion for improvements to the UK’s digital infrastructure, the government will introduce 100 per cent business rates relief for new fibre optic broadband infrastructure.

This will allay the fears of those companies who expected to see their business rates increase significantly following the recent rates revaluation, and will certainly give the industry a boost.

“However, aside from confirming the previously-announced £6.7 billion business rates reduction package and increasing rural rate relief from 50 per cent to 100 per cent and thereby correcting a long-standing anomaly, there was no further clarification on business rates.

“With the revaluation of commercial property for business rates due to come into force in April next year, we had hoped Mr Hammond would use this platform to provide details of the system which will be in place after April 2017.

“This is causing uncertainty in the market as businesses cannot confidently predict their occupational costs, so I sincerely hope that the Chancellor will clarify this soon and provide UK businesses with the details they require to plan ahead.

“Also, one of the key measures confirmed by Mr Hammond is that he will fund investments in large infrastructure projects including both road and rail improvements across the UK.

“Several of these projects will require the purchase of larges areas of land before any work can be undertaken, so both homeowners and businesses can expect to see more compulsory purchase activity from acquiring authorities such as The Highway Agency, HS2 and TfL.”