In what has been a busy fortnight in the run up to last week’s Budget, Redwood Consulting has been working closely with retained client, Lambert Smith Hampton (‘LSH’), to continue positioning the commercial property consultancy as a leading expert on business rates.

We have been working closely with LSH to deliver commentary on a number of challenges for the industry, including the ongoing struggle with the high level of appeals currently circulating the system and a call to action following last week’s statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

As a result of LSH’s growing reputation as an expert on business rates, we organised a call between Jonathan Prynn at the Evening Standard and Paul Easton, National Head of Business Rates to discuss the business rates appeals process. The article, which can be read here, highlights the worrying number of appeals still outstanding from the 2010 revaluation. Easton warned that the volume of appeals, which will inevitably follow the imminent changes, will put a huge strain on the system.

We also worked closely with LSH to procure a rapid response to the spring Budget. The swift reaction helped to secure coverage in Property Week, Estates Gazette and CoStar, promoting LSH and Paul Easton further as leading experts on the issue.