Commercial property to let

COVID-19 : a message to our tenants

We are currently facing challenging and fast changing circumstances, which understandably are giving rise to a number of questions and concerns. We can assure you that the council is looking at ways in which we can assist and offer support. At the present time, rental invoicing will continue in accordance with your lease terms but we accept that there is likely to be a need for flexibility in payment terms; we would therefore ask that you contact us at estatesservice@chichester.gov.uk if you are having difficulty in making your rental payments and we will respond as soon as we are able.

Our Economic Development team are available for general business support; this web link will also signpost you to the latest information from central Government on help available to businesses, through a package of targeted measures to support businesses through this period of disruption and uncertainty caused by the Coronavirus Pandemic.

A brief summary of the Government's measures of support for businesses (as of 26 March 2020) that may be available to you include:

• A statutory sick pay relief package for SMEs
• Deferring VAT and Income Tax payments
• A 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in England
• A business rates holiday for nurseries in England for the 2020 to 2021 tax year. There is no action required from you. We will issue revised bills for rate payers who are eligible for the discounts as soon as we are in a position to do so. In the meantime, please make payments according to your current bill until you receive a revised bill from us. Any overpayment will be refunded to you.
• A small business grant funding of £10,000 for all businesses in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) and Rural Rates Relief.
• A grant funding of up to £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses  with property with a rateable value under £51,000.
• The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme to support long-term viable businesses who may need to respond to cash-flow pressures by seeking additional finance, for more information about the Loan scheme please visit  British Business Bank .
• The HMRC Time To Pay Scheme
• Under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, all UK employers will be able to access support to continue paying part of their employees' salary for those employees that would otherwise have been laid off during this crisis.

Please note the Job Retention Scheme is being handled by HMRC. Their helpline is tel: 0800 0159 559.

Permitted Development Rights for restaurants, cafés, and drinking establishments to provide takeaway food

From 24 March 2020 new legislation introduced a permitted development right called 'Class DA', which allows restaurants, cafés, and drinking establishments to provide takeaway food for one year, without needing to apply for planning permission to do so. Please liaise with our planning department for more information.

Business Support Grant FAQs

Following the announcements made by The Chancellor of the Exchequer during March 2020 about two business grant schemes, the Small Business Grants Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund, further information is available about eligibility for the funding.

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• Chichester District
• Viewing properties owned or controlled by the Chichester District
• About the Estates Service
• Premises
• Disposals
• Council Property Ownership details
• Asset Management Plan

Chichester District

The location of Chichester offers a unique opportunity to invest in an area of outstanding natural beauty, fascinating history and commercial success. Sandwiched between the stunning South Downs National Park and the beautiful South Coast of England, the city is well served by excellent transport and communications links to London (via regular direct rail services), the rest of the UK, Europe (via Portsmouth and Southampton) and beyond. The district has a thriving business community and provides an excellent base for those looking to establish themselves and flourish. 

Viewing properties owned or controlled by the Chichester District

To view any properties owned or controlled:

1. Visit our  map showing the properties owned or controlled by the District Council
2. Within the map, open up the relevant section, and tick 'property ownership'.
    

About the Estates Service

The Estates Service deals with all the property within the council's ownership. This includes acquisitions and disposals, management and letting of commercial properties as well as the general management of the council's non-operational property portfolio.

For general enquires with regard to council owned property as well as general land ownership enquiries, please contact the Estates Service:

Premises

Chichester District Council also has the following accommodation available to let within the district:

Image of property	Property information
	8 Crane Street, Chichester 548 sq ft Well presented retail unit Centrally located, adjacent to North Street £1,500 pcm + VAT  8 Crane Street particulars [560kb]
	7a Crane Street, Chichester  413 sq ft Attractive shop front Centrally located adjacent to North Street £1,500 pcm + VAT  7a Crane Street particulars [743kb]
	Unit A2, Old Bakery, Golden Square, Petworth 715 sq ft, double frontage Prominent central Petworth location Available September 2020 £1,250 pcm + VAT  Unit A2 Old Bakery particulars [1Mb]

Disposals

Chichester District Council is currently seeking to dispose of several sites within the district. For further details, please see the Disposals List:

Council property ownership details

The Government now requires local councils to publish a variety of details in accordance with what is known as the Transparency Code.

Asset Management Plan 2016-2021

The Council has produced an Asset Management Plan for the period 2016-2021.