Retailers have warned that Scotland could ‘lose our high streets as we know them.’

scotland “There’s a bad one.” Budget We are far from losing our high streets as we know them”, the group representing retail businesses has warned.

The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) is pressuring the Finance Secretary to introduce a discount on business rates when the Scottish Budget is revealed in January.

it comes after chancellor Announced 10% discount for retailers in England During his budget last week.

Writing in the Herald, SRC director David Lonsdale said there was a risk of Scotland becoming a “materially less attractive investment option” due to the tax gap.

He said: “Ministers have made what proved to be absurd moves on rates before, for example introducing more regular revaluations and reducing the additional tax under consideration on grocery stores.

“However, the warning is clear – we are one bad budget away from losing our high streets as we know them.”

Mr Lonsdale has also written to Finance Secretary Shona Robison emphasizing the role of retailers in improving customer footfall.

He said: “When one shop flourishes, the café next door, the restaurant down the road and the town around it and the town center also flourishes.

“Maintaining the competitiveness of business rates will also achieve our shared government/industry vision of making ‘Scotland the best place in the UK to grow a retail business’.

“Given this, we urge you to introduce a permanent business rates discount for retailers from April in your budget to support the economic viability of Scotland’s high streets, which is at least as competitive as England’s discount.”

a scottish Government The spokesperson said: “Decisions on non-domestic rates for 2026/27 will be set out in the Scottish Budget in January.

“We will continue to work closely with businesses to drive economic growth and prosperity in our towns, cities and communities.”

The government said the current budget provides an estimated £730 million relief package for businesses, while the UK’s basic property rate is at its lowest for seven years in a row.