Your rateable value already qualifies for full Small Business Rate Relief, so your bill is £0 regardless of whether the valuation itself is on the high side. This assumes it's your only business property; relief is granted by your local council, not automatically.
Your estimated bill is already £0 under Small Business Rate Relief, so there is no saving to claim and no challenge to make. This assumes it's your only business property — relief is granted by your local council, so check your bill if you're not sure. Keep this report for your records, and re-check if your circumstances change, for example if you take on another business property.
The one thing we can't see is your actual measured size. Rateable value is built from floor areas measured to a standard code — and overstated areas are the single most common error we find. Pace out your unit (or check the VOA's published measurements against reality). If the area they hold is bigger than your real floor space, that alone can cut your rateable value, whatever the rate says.
For shops, the frontage zone (Zone A) carries the most value and it halves back as you go deeper. If the VOA has drawn your zones wrongly — treated storage or a return as prime frontage, or mismeasured the depth — your rateable value can be too high even when the headline rate looks standard.
With a rateable value of £9,400, you likely qualify for Small Business Rate Relief — up to 100% off your bill if this is your only business property (under £12,000), tapering to nothing at £15,000. Relief isn't always applied automatically — check your bill and ask your council if it's missing. This is a discount on the bill, separate from whether your rateable value is right.
Your use looks like retail, hospitality or leisure, which pays a lower 2026/27 multiplier (5p in the pound less). Your council decides eligibility on how the property is used — if your bill is using the full multiplier, that's worth querying.
If something physical has changed around you — long-running roadworks, scaffolding, a nearby demolition or redevelopment, a shopping centre losing an anchor — that can be grounds for a temporary reduction called a Material Change of Circumstances, even if your rate is otherwise fair. It has to be a physical/locality change, not just a downturn in trade. If that's you, a surveyor can advise whether it's worth a case.
Check the property description the VOA holds (the 'SCat' — what they think your property is). If it's wrong — a café recorded as a shop, an office recorded as storage — it may have been valued on the wrong basis. Getting the description right can change the whole valuation.
Your Zone A rate of £240/m² is the rate the Valuation Office applies right across your own parade — 85 other shops on that same scheme carry exactly the same rate. Shops elsewhere nearby may be assessed lower, but the Valuation Office prices each scheme on its own trading position, so that is a difference between locations, not an error in your assessment. Challenging it would mean arguing the whole scheme's rate is wrong, which affects every shop on it and is a specialist surveyor's argument, not a comparables one. So: no grounds on the rate, and no fee. The floor-area and relief checks below don't depend on the rate and are where cases like yours are more often won.
These are the shops the Valuation Office values on the same scheme as you — your own parade. That is the comparison that matters: the Valuation Office sets one shop-front rate per scheme, so that rate is what yours has to be consistent with.
Comparable properties on your parade, ranked by their shop-front value (£ per m²). A high £/m² value is what pushes your rateable value — and so your bill — up. Yours is highlighted in amber.
Every shop on your valuation scheme is shown — we haven't filtered any out by size or shop type, because a rate per square metre doesn't depend on how big you are or what you sell. Addresses are kept private by the Valuation OfficeThe government body that sets every property's Rateable Value. From April 2026 the VOA is part of HMRC (see below), but 'VOA' is still the common name for the valuation side of the work., so they appear by postcode and distance. Figures are estimated annual bills before any business-specific reliefs, so every property is compared on the same basis.
Your property: £3,591 before relief · likely £0 after Small Business Rate Relief.
Your property is pinned on the left; the closest matches are shown here in full (the chart above ranks every comparable). Scroll sideways for more.
| Line item | Your propertyFY5 1AJ | Shop And PremisesFY5 1AJ · same postcode | Shop And PremisesFY5 1AG · 50 m | Shop And PremisesFY5 1AJ · same postcode | Shop And PremisesFY5 1AJ · same postcode | Shop And PremisesFY5 1AJ · same postcode | Shop And PremisesFY5 1AJ · same postcode | Shop And PremisesFY5 1AJ · same postcode | Shop And PremisesFY5 1AJ · same postcode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business name | Not published | Not published | Rogersons Family Butchersvia FSA — may be inaccurate | The Coffee Barvia FSA — may be inaccurate | Not published | Not published | SPECSAVERS (CLEVELEYS)via NHS — may be inaccurate | Not published | Not published |
| Address | 73, VICTORIA ROAD WEST, THORNTON CLEVELEYS FY5 1AJ | GND FLR 69, VICTORIA ROAD WEST, THORNTON CLEVELEYS FY5 1AJ | 110, VICTORIA ROAD WEST, THORNTON CLEVELEYS FY5 1AG | 71, VICTORIA ROAD WEST, THORNTON CLEVELEYS FY5 1AJ | 67, VICTORIA ROAD WEST, THORNTON CLEVELEYS FY5 1AJ | 77, VICTORIA ROAD WEST, THORNTON CLEVELEYS FY5 1AJ | 83, VICTORIA ROAD WEST, THORNTON CLEVELEYS FY5 1AJ | 79, VICTORIA ROAD WEST, THORNTON CLEVELEYS FY5 1AJ | 81, VICTORIA ROAD WEST, THORNTON CLEVELEYS FY5 1AJ |
| Retail Zone A | £6,432 26.8 m² · £240 | £6,370 26.5 m² · £240 | £8,424 35.1 m² · £240 | £7,200 30 m² · £240 | £13,517 51.2 m² · £264 | £13,721 57.2 m² · £240 | £9,998 41.7 m² · £240 | £9,912 41.3 m² · £240 | £9,912 41.3 m² · £240 |
| Retail Zone B | £2,532 21.1 m² · £120 | £3,696 30.8 m² · £120 | £3,138 26.2 m² · £120 | £1,932 16.1 m² · £120 | £4,584 38.2 m² · £120 | £5,424 45.2 m² · £120 | £4,640 38.7 m² · £120 | £5,220 43.5 m² · £120 | £4,956 41.3 m² · £120 |
| Retail Zone C | £66 1.1 m² · £60 | £997 16.6 m² · £60 | £201 3.4 m² · £60 | — | £1,578 26.3 m² · £60 | £733 12.2 m² · £60 | £1,609 26.8 m² · £60 | £1,950 32.5 m² · £60 | £1,722 28.7 m² · £60 |
| Kitchen | £206 8.6 m² · £24 | — | — | £36 1.5 m² · £24 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Internal Storage | £209 8.7 m² · £24 | — | — | — | — | £328 13.7 m² · £24 | £118 9.9 m² · £12 | £1,520 124.7 m² · £12 | £1,518 131.6 m² · £12 |
| Staff Toilets | — | — | £0 0 m² · £0 | £0 0 m² · £0 | — | £0 0 m² · £0 | £0 0 m² · £0 | £0 0 m² · £0 | £0 0 m² · £0 |
| Mess/Staff Room | — | — | — | — | — | £252 10.5 m² · £24 | £130 10.9 m² · £12 | — | — |
| Public Toilets | — | — | — | — | — | £105 4.4 m² · £24 | — | — | — |
| Office | — | — | — | — | — | — | £166 13.8 m² · £12 | — | £82 6.8 m² · £12 |
| Retail Area | — | — | — | — | — | — | £1,261 52.6 m² · £24 | — | — |
| Laboratory | — | — | — | — | — | — | £168 11.2 m² · £15 | — | — |
| Chill Store | — | — | £478 13.3 m² · £36 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rateable value | £9,400 | £11,000 | £12,000 | £9,400 | £20,250 | £20,250 | £19,000 | £20,250 | £18,000 |
| Floor area | 66.3 m² | 74 m² | 77.9 m² | 47.6 m² | 115.7 m² | 143.2 m² | 205.5 m² | 242 m² | 249.7 m² |
| Zone A value (£/m²) | £240 /m² | £240 /m² | £240 /m² | £240 /m² | £264 /m² | £240 /m² | £240 /m² | £240 /m² | £240 /m² |
| Last known bill / yr | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Occupied | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Distance | — | same postcode | 50 m | same postcode | same postcode | same postcode | same postcode | same postcode | same postcode |
| MatchHow closely a comparable property matches yours, based on property type, size and distance. A higher percentage means stronger evidence for a challenge — but even a 100% match is only ever supporting evidence, not a guarantee. | — | 88% | 83% | 72% | 26% | — | — | — | — |
| Reliefs | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Last known bill is the figure a council's own records show it charges (from Freedom of Information data) — shown only where we have it, like the Business name and Reliefs rows above. Where a council's response predates the April 2026 revaluation, this is its 2025/26 bill under the previous rating list. "Not published" means that council's FOI data doesn't cover this property, not that the bill is nil.
The lowest value in each row is highlighted green; your property is in amber. All figures are estimates until agreed with the Valuation Office.
Parade Zone A value ≈ £240/m². Your unit is assessed at £240/m².
Some of these properties may also qualify for Small Business Rate Relief, but that depends on each occupier's circumstances (mainly whether it's their only property), which isn't shown in public rating data. We compare bills before relief to keep the comparison fair.
Retail is valued zone by zone — the frontage (Zone AIn shops, the first 6.1 metres of depth from the shop front — the most valuable trading space, and the benchmark rate (£ per m²) used to value the whole unit.) carries the full value, halving back through B and C. We compare on the Zone A value (£/m²), not the blended average.
| Zone / use | Area | Value £/m² | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail Zone A | 26.8 m² | £240 | £6,432 |
| Retail Zone B | 21.1 m² | £120 | £2,532 |
| Retail Zone C | 1.1 m² | £60 | £66 |
| Kitchen | 8.6 m² | £24 | £206 |
| Internal Storage | 8.7 m² | £24 | £209 |
| Rateable value | 66.3 m² | blended £142 | £9,400 |
What's not included above: reliefs not yet loaded for your council — charitable, empty-property, rural, hardship or transitional — could lower this further. They depend on your business and circumstances, not just the property, so check your council bill for your final figure.
Retail/Hospitality/Leisure rate: we've used the lower 2026/27 RHL multiplier (38.2p, 5p below the national rate) because this property's use class looks like a qualifying retail, hospitality or leisure use. Final eligibility is set by your council and depends on the property being wholly or mainly used for a qualifying purpose — if it doesn't qualify, the national multiplier applies and the bill (and any saving) would be a little higher.
How this property's rateable value has moved across the last three rating lists, and whether the entry has been altered mid-list following a proposal or appeal.
| Rating listThe public register listing every business property's Rateable Value. The current list is the '2026 list', based on rental values from 1 April 2024. | Rateable value | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 list (current) | £9,400 | In force |
| 2023 list | — | Previous |
| 2017 list | — | Previous |
Appeal / settlement: not yet checked for this property.
How your rateable value has moved across the last two revaluations. RV only changes when a new rating list takes effect — 2017, 2023 and 2026 — not year to year, so the bars step rather than drift.
No bar shown for 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23, 2023/24, 2024/25, 2025/26 — the rateable value for that rating list isn't held for this property yet, so we've left those years out rather than estimate them.
Every week we read the Valuation Office's own change files and record what moved. This is that record for this property — checked against VOA data published 5 Aug 2026.
Nothing has changed. The Valuation Office has not altered this entry since the 2026 rating list came into force, which is true of the large majority of properties — a rateable value normally only moves at a revaluation, or after someone asks for it to be looked at. We keep checking every week, and anything that does change will appear here.
This is an estimate, not a guaranteed saving. Business Rate Checker compares your property against similar ones in the official rating list to flag where your rateable value looks high. The figures shown — including any suggested rateable value, annual saving or backdated refund — are indicative and depend on the evidence the Valuation Office Agency (VOA, now part of HMRC) accepts. The actual outcome could be higher, lower, or nil, and in rare cases a review can leave a value unchanged or increased. Nothing here is a valuation, financial or legal advice; it's information to help you decide whether to look into your bill further.
You've got the full picture on your rateable value — the next step is making your claim. See how to challenge it yourself for free, or with a chartered surveyor.
Evidence: HMRC/VOA 2026 rating list. Comparables matched on use class and locality. Figures are estimates until agreed by the VOA — outcomes aren't guaranteed and can go down as well as up. A formal Check/Challenge is a separate step we don't perform here. Business Rate Checker is independent and is not endorsed by the VOA/HMRC.
Every zone, area & £/m² value for the closest comparables, side by side. Your property is pinned on the left.
| Line item | Your propertyFY5 1AJ | Shop And PremisesFY5 1AJ · same postcode | Shop And PremisesFY5 1AG · 50 m | Shop And PremisesFY5 1AJ · same postcode | Shop And PremisesFY5 1AJ · same postcode | Shop And PremisesFY5 1AJ · same postcode | Shop And PremisesFY5 1AJ · same postcode | Shop And PremisesFY5 1AJ · same postcode | Shop And PremisesFY5 1AJ · same postcode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business name | Not published | Not published | Rogersons Family Butchersvia FSA — may be inaccurate | The Coffee Barvia FSA — may be inaccurate | Not published | Not published | SPECSAVERS (CLEVELEYS)via NHS — may be inaccurate | Not published | Not published |
| Address | 73, VICTORIA ROAD WEST, THORNTON CLEVELEYS FY5 1AJ | GND FLR 69, VICTORIA ROAD WEST, THORNTON CLEVELEYS FY5 1AJ | 110, VICTORIA ROAD WEST, THORNTON CLEVELEYS FY5 1AG | 71, VICTORIA ROAD WEST, THORNTON CLEVELEYS FY5 1AJ | 67, VICTORIA ROAD WEST, THORNTON CLEVELEYS FY5 1AJ | 77, VICTORIA ROAD WEST, THORNTON CLEVELEYS FY5 1AJ | 83, VICTORIA ROAD WEST, THORNTON CLEVELEYS FY5 1AJ | 79, VICTORIA ROAD WEST, THORNTON CLEVELEYS FY5 1AJ | 81, VICTORIA ROAD WEST, THORNTON CLEVELEYS FY5 1AJ |
| Retail Zone A | £6,432 26.8 m² · £240 | £6,370 26.5 m² · £240 | £8,424 35.1 m² · £240 | £7,200 30 m² · £240 | £13,517 51.2 m² · £264 | £13,721 57.2 m² · £240 | £9,998 41.7 m² · £240 | £9,912 41.3 m² · £240 | £9,912 41.3 m² · £240 |
| Retail Zone B | £2,532 21.1 m² · £120 | £3,696 30.8 m² · £120 | £3,138 26.2 m² · £120 | £1,932 16.1 m² · £120 | £4,584 38.2 m² · £120 | £5,424 45.2 m² · £120 | £4,640 38.7 m² · £120 | £5,220 43.5 m² · £120 | £4,956 41.3 m² · £120 |
| Retail Zone C | £66 1.1 m² · £60 | £997 16.6 m² · £60 | £201 3.4 m² · £60 | — | £1,578 26.3 m² · £60 | £733 12.2 m² · £60 | £1,609 26.8 m² · £60 | £1,950 32.5 m² · £60 | £1,722 28.7 m² · £60 |
| Kitchen | £206 8.6 m² · £24 | — | — | £36 1.5 m² · £24 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Internal Storage | £209 8.7 m² · £24 | — | — | — | — | £328 13.7 m² · £24 | £118 9.9 m² · £12 | £1,520 124.7 m² · £12 | £1,518 131.6 m² · £12 |
| Staff Toilets | — | — | £0 0 m² · £0 | £0 0 m² · £0 | — | £0 0 m² · £0 | £0 0 m² · £0 | £0 0 m² · £0 | £0 0 m² · £0 |
| Mess/Staff Room | — | — | — | — | — | £252 10.5 m² · £24 | £130 10.9 m² · £12 | — | — |
| Public Toilets | — | — | — | — | — | £105 4.4 m² · £24 | — | — | — |
| Office | — | — | — | — | — | — | £166 13.8 m² · £12 | — | £82 6.8 m² · £12 |
| Retail Area | — | — | — | — | — | — | £1,261 52.6 m² · £24 | — | — |
| Laboratory | — | — | — | — | — | — | £168 11.2 m² · £15 | — | — |
| Chill Store | — | — | £478 13.3 m² · £36 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rateable value | £9,400 | £11,000 | £12,000 | £9,400 | £20,250 | £20,250 | £19,000 | £20,250 | £18,000 |
| Floor area | 66.3 m² | 74 m² | 77.9 m² | 47.6 m² | 115.7 m² | 143.2 m² | 205.5 m² | 242 m² | 249.7 m² |
| Zone A value (£/m²) | £240 /m² | £240 /m² | £240 /m² | £240 /m² | £264 /m² | £240 /m² | £240 /m² | £240 /m² | £240 /m² |
| Last known bill / yr | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Occupied | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
| Distance | — | same postcode | 50 m | same postcode | same postcode | same postcode | same postcode | same postcode | same postcode |
| MatchHow closely a comparable property matches yours, based on property type, size and distance. A higher percentage means stronger evidence for a challenge — but even a 100% match is only ever supporting evidence, not a guarantee. | — | 88% | 83% | 72% | 26% | — | — | — | — |
| Reliefs | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published | Not published |
Last known bill is the figure a council's own records show it charges (Freedom of Information data), shown only where published — responses that predate the April 2026 revaluation are 2025/26 bills. The lowest value in each row is highlighted green; your property is in amber. All figures are estimates until agreed with the Valuation Office.