Businesses in the West Midlands will breath a sigh of relief after an announcement by the region’s combined authority that a planned business rate hike is unlikely to go ahead.

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Board is set to drop a proposal for a rates increase of 4% for businesses over the whole region when it meets tomorrow.

The planned rates increase would have brought in an additional £34m per year, which would have funded the Metro and other transport, housing and regeneration projects.

The decision has been made in part because the Mayor and the WMCA have attracted over £1.8bn of extra Government investment in the region since May 2017.

The WMCA also said the decision would help manufacturers with large floor spaces for their facilities, and large retailers who are anchor tenants in high streets across the region.

‘I am delighted that I have been able to give this commitment not to increase business rates for businesses in the West Midlands,’ said the Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street.

‘I have spoken often about the impact business rates are having on the high street and on manufacturers, and I am glad that we have agreement across the WMCA that this additional tax is unnecessary.’