The intervention follows a campaign launched by Durham BID and Durham City Parish Council in March 2025 after the previous Government reduced business rates relief from 75% to 40%, a move the organisations said left many independent businesses facing significant cost increases. Durham BID said temporary relief was needed to give businesses "breathing space" until long-term reforms to the national business rates system were introduced. Durham BID said any changes should be introduced quickly and accompanied by temporary relief measures for physical retailers and leisure businesses. A spokesperson for Durham BID said: "Our high street businesses are the lifeblood of Durham's local economy. "Daytime retail businesses are facing the exact same financial pressures and rising operational costs.