Tribunals · London Borough of Southwark · 2017 rating list

Phone Booth 2 Level 24 The Shard 31, St Thomas Street, SE1 9RY

Decided 1 April 2025 CHG101088208 Avison Young (UK) Ltd

OutcomeAllowed in partThe tribunal reduced the rateable value, but by less than the ratepayer sought.
Original RV£8,800£550/m²
Ratepayer sought£500
VO conceded first—
Tribunal decided£8,300£550/m²

Figures are as stated in the decision; a dash means the document does not state that figure. This decision covers 50 properties; the figures shown are for the first listed.

What was argued and what the tribunal found

The appellant sought reductions in rateable values for 50 serviced office suites across Levels 24 and 25 of The Shard, arguing for a base tone of £500/m² instead of £550/m² and challenging the tower uplift applied to south-facing units. The tribunal found the valuation officer's analysis of the subject rent and comparable rents was correct, following the binding principles in Bunyan v Acenden regarding amortisation of rent-free periods over the full lease term. The tribunal granted a 5% end allowance for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 January 2022 to reflect material change of circumstances from demolition and reconstruction works, except for two suites which had already benefited from this allowance.

Summary generated from the decision text and checked against it. The appellant was The Office Group Holdings Ltd, represented.

Grounds argued

  • Comparable assessments (tone)
  • Change of circumstances
Change of circumstances
demolition and reconstruction of adjacent building
Evidence
Rents, Expert report
Cases cited
Lotus and Delta v Culverwell; Bunyan (VO) v Acenden Limited; Specialeyes Plc v Felgate (VO)
Hearing
5 March 2025

Similar decisions

All decisions in London Borough of Southwark · Offices nationally

Is your own rateable value in line?

A free check compares a property with the assessments around it and says plainly whether there is anything worth pursuing.

Check a property

The tribunal’s decision in full

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

Decision © Crown copyright, published by the Valuation Tribunal Service under the Open Government Licence v3.0 and reproduced unaltered. This site does not index the names of private individuals that appear in decisions. Information, not advice.