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Marina Business Rates U-Turn Welcomed



Property consultancy Vail Williams has welcomed a Government U-turn on marinas being excluded from lower rate multipliers in the forthcoming business rates revaluation as a ‘victory for common sense’.


The firm, which acts for a number of the UK’s top marina operators covering multiple sites, is now conveying the news to clients.


This move brings marinas into the same category as retail and leisure businesses such as pubs and restaurants. Business rates will continue to be administered by local authorities.


The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) updated the rateable values of all commercial, and other non-domestic, properties in England and Wales which take effect from 1 April.


The Government announced that from 2026/27, existing business rate relief for retail, hospitality or leisure (RHL) properties would be replaced by a lower rates multiplier to calculate the business rates payable on those properties.


However, marinas were specifically excluded from the RHL lower rates multiplier and faced being subjected to the standard business rates multiplier which applies to non-RHL business properties.

Following a campaign backed by industry body British Marine, the Government has announced a refinement in the Statutory Instrument (SI) defining which properties would be eligible for the new RHL business rates multipliers that will be coming into effect in April.


Dan Tomlinson, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury announced the change in a letter to British Marine CEO Lesley Robinson. He said:

“I recognise that marinas are distinct from transport properties and that they form part of the infrastructure of leisure activity. Furthermore, the intention has always been for the scope of the new multipliers to broadly reflect the scope of the current RHL relief. Thank you for bringing to my attention that local authorities are currently awarding RHL relief to marinas."

“The Government will therefore be amending the SI ahead of the policy coming into force on 1 April to remove marinas from Schedule 1. This means that marinas with rateable values below £500,000 and that are wholly or mainly used for leisure/recreational purposes will be eligible for the lower business rates multipliers.”


“Ahead of then, the online guidance will be updated, and local authorities will be made aware of the upcoming amendment.”


The reversal means that qualifying marinas will benefit from the 43 pence RHL rate, rather than the standard 48 pence rate.


Vail Williams partner and head of business rates Adam Barnfield said:

“This U-turn can be considered to be a victory for common sense and will benefit the vast majority of marinas which qualify for the lower business rates multipliers."

“However, there have been significant increases in the VOA assessments of the rateable value applied to marinas, with an average 23% increase in values and an additional £5.8 million of rateable value” – which equates to approximately £2.5m in additional revenue for the treasury.”


“Although this is obviously a welcome change in stance from Government, the increase in RV and the removal of the existing retail, hospitality and leisure relief will still have a significant impact on business rates liabilities.”


Ian Froome, Vail Williams partner and head of marine & leisure, added that the upcoming amendment regarding lower rates measures would be welcomed by marina operators as a silver lining, but there would certainly be increased costs all around.

“We cannot say there will be euphoria regarding this refinement in the revaluation process, but it is a cushioning of the significant increases faced by marina operators and should be accepted as such.”

Business rates revaluation 2026.


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  • lindaandrews071
  • May 27, 2025
  • 3 min read

Leading British spring manufacturer Spinks launched four ground-breaking innovations at the Interzum show this month, with three of the products being recognised in this year’s prestigious Interzum Awards – including the highly sought after Best of the Best Award.


Spinks’ latest microcoil and pocket spring technologies showcase its next-generation approach to comfort innovation. The newly-launched Microlution microcoil took home the ‘Best of the Best’ accolade – the highest recognition available at the show – while new spring innovations Quadrolution and Micro Copper were each awarded ‘High Product Quality’.


Micro Trio, a fourth new product, was also unveiled at the international industry show in Cologne, having missed the award entry deadline. Like all Spinks’ innovative technologies, these new spring systems have been designed and created in-house at the company's Yorkshire facility to be recyclable without the use of glue.


Award-winning Spinks innovations launched at Interzum 2025:


• Microlution – the next generation of microcoil technology featuring Spinks’ innovative two-stage approach – two springs working together to provide initial comfort with secondary support in a single layer. The level of luxurious comfort and long-term support this patent-pending technology provides has never before been possible within a microcoil layer.


• Quadrolution – an evolution of Spinks’ innovative glueless QuadCore spring technology, this recyclable system has infinite customisation opportunities, allowing Response Coils to be positioned between each group of QuadCore springs to create a secondary support system that then allows for zoning, phased zoning, or a firm edge. Made with just two raw materials, this patented design offers revolutionary recyclable core technology to the bedding industry.


• Micro Copper – the world’s first microcoil to feature copper-infused nonwoven fabric, resulting in a product with antimicrobial and anti-fungal benefits. The technology utilises the hydrophilic nonwoven currently used within medical applications, while the fine-wire microcoils can be positioned close to the mattress or seating application surface, making it extremely useful where hygiene is paramount – such as transportation seating.


• Micro Trio – a microcoil like no other, with three active coils formed from a single piece of wire to provide unrivalled comfort for mattresses and bedding. The revolutionary patented coil system seamlessly transitions from pressure-relieving comfort to adapt to personalised support for every body type.


Darren Marcangelo, Chief Commercial Officer at Spinks, said:

“This year’s Interzum has been hugely exciting for us. To launch four new technologies that set new standards for comfort and performance is a great milestone and to see three of them recognised with one of the most prestigious awards for our industry – including our first ever ‘Best of the Best’ award – has been a real honour for the team. We're confident we could have won a fourth too if Micro Trio was launched in time."

“These innovations reflect growing demand from bedding and seating manufacturers for highly customisable solutions and versatile designs."

  

“We’re the pioneers of microcoil technology, and we challenged ourselves to deliver even more comfort and support into our range of coils."


“Copper is also a key trend in bedding at present, mainly in the US, but European and Asian manufacturers are starting to adopt it too. Customers want innovative products and want to be able to differentiate – so we’re responding to that with new innovations that offer high levels of customisation, with each developed to give our clients a real competitive advantage.”


The award-winning Micro Copper and Micro Trio is set to be commercially available this year, with Microlution and Quadrolution available from early 2026.



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