The dispute has run through the Valuation Tribunal, the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) and the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal decision was appealed by the Valuation Office Agency .
In essence the decision had regard to the situation where both the retailer and the ATM operator derive a commercial benefit from the use of the site. The Supreme Court decided that where the retailer had conferred rights on the operator to further the retailer’s own general business purposes, then the retailer retained occupation of the ATM site for both internal and external ATM’s, and a separate assessment on the ATM site is incorrect.
The Supreme Court therefore dismissed the Valuation Office Agency’s appeal.
The decision is important in curtailing the VOA’s quest to create additional assessments. Crucially, it will also enable ATM operators to continue to offer their facilities, particularly in socially disadvantaged locations where the need is greatest and the commercial viability of the ATM is marginal.
