In January 2020 the 麻豆约拍 Shared Data Unit reported empty businesses costed UK taxpayers 拢1bn a year, prompting calls for urgent reform of the system.
Some councils lose out on millions of pounds of potential business rates income through a tax relief on empty properties, 麻豆约拍 analysis shows.
A local authority mayor in northern England said the money "added up to a lot" and the system was unfair.
The Treasury said it would announce a review of business rates "in due course".
Experts say the current system pits local authorities - which want stable income - against businesses.
The Shared Data Unit makes data journalism available to news organisations across the media industry, as part of a partnership between the 麻豆约拍 and the News Media Association. Stories generated by the partnership included:
- Newcastle: Chronicle Live: 16 January 2020
- Eastern Daily Press: 16 January 2020
- Luton Today: 16 January 2020
- Ilford Recorder: 16 January 2020
- Romford Recorder: 16 January 2020
- Dorset Echo: 16 January 2020
- Bridport & Lyme Regis News: 16 January 2020
- The Argus: 16 January 2020
- The Argus: 16 January 2020
- The Argus: 16 January 2020
- News & Star with The Cumberland News: 16 January 2020
- The Yorkshire Post: 16 January 2020
- Yorkshire Evening Post: 16 January 2020
- Plymouth Live: 16 January 2020
- Worcester News: 16 January 2020
- Malvern Gazette: 16 January 2020
- Bolton News: 16 January 2020
- Portsmouth: The News: 16 January 2020
- Lancashire Telegraph: 16 January 2020
- Northampton Chronicle & Echo: 16 January 2020
- West Bridgford Wire: 16 January 2020
- Blackpool: The Gazette: 16 January 2020
- Berkshire Live: 16 January 2020
- Hereford Times: 16 January 2020
- Northamptonshire Telegraph: 16 January 2020
- Bromsgrove Advertiser: 16 January 2020
- Welwyn Hatfield Times: 16 January 2020
- Business Matters: 16 January 2020
- Hartlepool Mail: 16 January 2020
- Northumberland Gazette: 16 January 2020
- The Shields Gazette: 16 January 2020
- Liverpool Echo: 16 January 2020
- Gedling Eye: 16 January 2020
- Business Live: 16 January 2020
- The Bucks Herald: 17 January 2020
- Leamington Spa: The Courier: 17 January 2020
- Swindon Advertiser: 17 January 2020
- York: The Press: 17 January 2020
- Lynn News: 17 January 2020
- Harrogate Advertiser: 17 January 2020
- Surrey Live: 18 January 2020
- Bristol Live : 18 January 2020
- The Northern Echo: 18 January 2020
- Dudley News: 18 January 2020
- Watford Observer: 20 January 2020
- Sunderland Echo: 20 January 2020
- Lancashire Post: 20 January 2020
- Bournemouth Daily Echo: 21 January 2020
- Essex: Daily Gazette: 21 January 2020
- Epping Forest Guardian: 21 January 2020
- Rugby Advertiser: 22 January 2020
- Lincolnshire Live: 27 January 2020
- Eastbourne Herald: 4 February 2020
- Worthing Herald: 4 February 2020
- Scarborough News: 6 February 2020
- Bury Free Press: 13 February 2020
- Warrington Guardian: 19 February 2020
The story was also used by the , Look North, South Today, East Midlands Today, 麻豆约拍 Radio Lincolnshire, 麻豆约拍 Radio Bristol, 麻豆约拍 Radio Nottingham, 麻豆约拍 Radio Scotland, 麻豆约拍 Sussex, Wales Today, 麻豆约拍 Tees, 麻豆约拍 Radio Shropshire, 麻豆约拍 Radio Cumbria, 麻豆约拍 Radio Devon, 麻豆约拍 Radio Ulster, 麻豆约拍 Radio Humberside.
Visualisation
- Bar chart: Percentage (%) of potential business rates income councils lost out on 2014-2018
- Bar chart: Lost business rates income from empty properties 2014-2018 (by government region)