Tribunals · Reading Borough Council · 2023 rating list

Pt 7th Floor The Blade, Abbey Street, RG1 3BA

Office and premises Decided 17 June 2026 CHG101126924 Allsop LLP - John Banbury

OutcomeDismissedThe appeal failed and the rateable value was left unchanged.
Original RV£170,000£325/m²
Ratepayer sought£132,000
VO conceded first—
Tribunal decided£170,000£325/m²

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 argued that the rateable value should be reduced from £170,000 to £132,000 (from £325/m² to £250/m²), based on rental evidence from comparable properties allegedly in Category B condition. The tribunal found that the evidence did not support this reduction because the comparable lettings were for second-hand fitted space, not first-fit Grade A offices, and applied the principles from Acenden and Shoosmiths to require an uplift for true open-market valuation. The tribunal dismissed the appeal and upheld the original £170,000 assessment.

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

Grounds argued

  • Comparable assessments (tone) · decisive
  • Rental evidence
Evidence
Rents, Photographs, Expert report
Cases cited
Lotus and Delta v Culverwell; Bunyan v Acenden Ltd; Hitchings v Shoosmiths LLP and Mando Group Ltd
Hearing
20 May 2026

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