The nuclear industry is due a refund of more than £30 million after winning a business rates appeal. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and Sellafield Ltd lodged an appeal in 2013 to the Valuations Office Agency (VOA) that it should pay lower rates to Copeland Council. The VOA has now ruled in favour of the NDA/Sellafield Ltd and the reduced rate (from around £30m a year to £25m) is backdated to 2010. Although Copeland council collects the business rates from all firms in the borough, this money is then transferred to central government to be distributed nationally. Forty per cent of the nuclear refund (£12.6m) is now due from Copeland council, 50 per cent (£15.75m) from central government and 10 per cent (£3.1m) from Cumbria County Council. Talks are ongoing as to how this money will be repaid.
Carlisle News & Star 5th May 2016 read more »
Whitehaven News 5th May 2016 read more »