THE economy has been the focus of keen debate this year, and the difficulties in the eurozone have had, as the Prime Minister put it, a ‘chilling effect’ both nationally and locally.

It was no surprise the Chancellor’s autumn statement and plans to kick-start the economy have been put firmly in the spotlight.

While the austerity measures was to be expected, there was good news, in general:

Business rate relief holiday

There will be an extension of the small business rate relief holiday and the introduction of a scheme to allow businesses to defer 60% of the increase in their 2012-2013 business rate bills. This will give relief for small businesses eligible and occupy property in England with a rateable value of up to £6,000, and tapering relief for businesses with a higher rateable value of up to £12,000.

Enterprise Zone extension

There will be an extension of the enterprise zone in the North East Local Enterprise Partnership area, which will include the Port of Blyth.

Capital Allowance

100% first year capital allowances will apply to expenditure on plant and machinery between April 2012 and March 2017 for businesses.

Planning changes

The UK’s planning and consent regime had been identified as one of the main contributors to UK infrastructure, more expensive to build than in Europe. A series of reforms are to be introduced with a view to reducing cost. There will be initiatives to reduce bureaucracy by speeding up the timescale for the delivery of non-planning consents, which would include environmental permits, hazardous substance consents, highway consents and building regulation consents, among others. There will be a review of the planning appeal procedure in the hope it will become more transparent by summer next year.

Infrastructure improvements

The National Infrastructure Plan 2011, published alongside the autumn statement, gives details of the Government’s plans to improve road, rail, airport and port infrastructure and increase superfast broadband and mobile coverage in the UK.

The autumn statement was never going to please everybody and is difficult to digest in areas.

:: John Booth is an associate in the property team at law firm Dickinson Dees