NHS Trusts’ £2bn claim for charitable relief for business rates fails in High Court

Judgment has been handed down in a landmark case for NHS Trusts. Seventeen Trusts took forty-five councils to the High Court, contending that the councils were wrong in not affording the Trusts the same business rates treatment as charities.

There have been several high profile court cases concerning the operation of charitable reliefs but none so polarising as this one. If the Trusts had been successful, then the local authorities would have had to refund total monies in excess of £2bn. Public purse vs public purse, but obviously with both parties under different pressures and demands. 

The ruling against the NHS Trusts, endorsed by the Charity Commission, followed a strong sense of logic but might the NHS Trusts appeal?

For more, read Richard New's post over on our sister blog health and care update.