Tribunals · North Devon District Council · 2017 rating list

Offices, North Walk, EX31 1EA

Offices and premises Decided 8 June 2026 CHG100386363 NPS Group - Thomas Hancock

OutcomeAllowed in partThe tribunal reduced the rateable value, but by less than the ratepayer sought.

Original RV£347,500

Ratepayer sought£1

VO conceded first£77,500−78% before the hearing

Tribunal decided£56,500from 1 Apr 2017

Figures are as stated in the decision; a dash means the document does not state that figure.

What was argued and what the tribunal found

The appellant (Devon County Council) argued the property should be valued at £1 as there is no demand for a single occupier of this large, dated nine-storey office building. The tribunal accepted there is no demand for occupation as a whole but found evidence of demand for office accommodation in the locality at a smaller scale. While rejecting the nomination value of £1, the tribunal found the Valuation Officer's 45% allowance insufficient to reflect the building's exceptional disadvantages including size, age, condition, and operational costs. The tribunal allowed the appeal in part, increasing the allowance to 60% to reduce the rateable value from £77,500 to £56,500.

Summary generated from the decision text and checked against it. The appellant was Devon County Council, represented.

Grounds argued

Valuation method
Change of circumstances

Change of circumstances: refurbishment of adjacent building and demolition of connecting link
Evidence: Settled assessments, Measurement survey
Cases cited: Telereal Trillium Ltd v Hewitt [2019] UKSC 23; Sheil v Borg-Warner Ltd [1984] 2 EGLR 211
Hearing: 11 May 2026

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The tribunal’s decision in full

Download the PDF · Find it on valuationtribunal.gov.uk