The Isle of Wight’s independent business community is facing significant pressure from rising business rates, a concern that has been raised by Joe Robertson MP with the Chief Executive of the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, Rob Johnson.
Research highlights that average rateable values have surged by 76 per cent for hotels and 30 per cent for pubs, while thousands of retail properties nationwide face a collective £112 million increase starting in April 2026.
In Westminster, Mr Robertson has submitted a series of Parliamentary Questions to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to assess how these revaluations and reduced reliefs might lead to high street closures and empty units. During recent House of Commons and Westminster Hall debates, the importance of protecting local shops from the cumulative impact of these rates, National Insurance increases, and rising utility bills was emphasised.
The Government points to a £4.3 billion support package and a 15 per cent cap on most bill increases, but Joe Robertson says direct evidence from local owners remains essential for ongoing Ministerial discussions. To support this effort, a Small Business Survey is currently open to ensure the specific experiences of Island businesses are accurately represented in Parliament. The link to this survey is below.
https://www.joerobertson.co.uk/joes-small-business-survey
