HUNDREDS of retailers in West Oxfordshire are set to benefit from business rates relief.

West Oxfordshire District Council’s cabinet has supported a government scheme which will cut retailers’ rates by a third if they have a rateable value of £51,000 or less.

An estimated 353 businesses in the district will benefit from the discount, which was announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement.

The retail rate relief was approved at a meeting of the Council’s Cabinet on 16 January.

Read again: Independent businesses concerned over rising business rates

Toby Morris, cabinet member for resources, said: “This is good news for retailers in the District, many of whom are under pressure from changing shopping trends.

"It will directly benefit our local economy and help our high streets continue to thrive.”

Last year, independent business owners in Witney spoke out about the 'extreme pressure' they were under following years of rising rates.