Looks like the Valuation Office has started to issue decisions on the rateable value of units at Spark on Piccadilly.

Units 1 and 2 are now listed as having a rateable value of £12,750 for their 30 sq. mtr ground floor sales area. The price per sq. mtr applied by the VO is £430 which is typical for the area.

The actual business rates payable would be around £6000, with a discount for small businesses.

It appears that valuations are being undertaken per container, so it is unclear precisely how much the Council will receive in total.

The rates are payable with effect from May 2018, so it appears that taxpayers will at last start to see some benefit from their investment.

Separately, Spark have now applied for planning permission to install the canvass roof on their enterprise. This has actually been in place for about 2 months already.

There is still no sign of the promised cladding to the Piccadilly frontage. This was a condition of the planning consent and has been outstanding for over 6 months now.