A SERIES of Scottish Government buildings are to escape the rates hikes affecting business elsewhere in the country, with the SNP’s headquarters also enjoying a £6500 cut.
Provisional figures produced by the Scottish Assessors Association show the rateable value of large parts of the government estate will fall from April.
In Edinburgh, the rateable value of the Victoria Quay complex in Leith falls from £3.9m to £3.43m; St Andrew’s House, where ministers are based, falls from £1.915m to £1.181m, and Saughton House falls from £1.155 to £932,000.
In Glasgow, the rateable value of Atlantic Quay falls from £1.59m to £1.18m, and the Europa Building from £565,00 to £535,00. Strathearn House in Perth falls from £349,000 to £253,500.
The SNP is also a direct beneficiary of the revaluation.
The rateable value of its HQ next to the Scottish Parliament is cut from £38,100 to £27,000, meaning the bill for the party next year will fall by £6,523 from £19,431 to £12,908.
Other parties also get a cut - the bill for Scottish Labour HQ in Glasgow’s Bath Street is set to be £10,350 cheaper, while the Scottish Tory base in Edinburgh will be £788 less expensive.
The Scottish LibDems, however, face a £202 rise for their base in Edinburgh’s Haymarket.
The Scottish Greens occupy a small office in Edinburgh liable for 100 per cent relief.
The LibDems said the SNP rate cut would leave a "bitter taste in the mouth" of firms facing large increases, while the Tories described it as a "financial fillip" for the party.
An SNP spokesman said: "Rating valuation is undertaken by independent assessors and neither the Scottish Government - nor the SNP - has any locus or input in this process.”
There are fears tourist attractions could also pass on extra costs in higher ticket prices.
The rateable value of Edinburgh Castle is due to increase from £326,000 to £1.8m, while that of Edinburgh Zoo will go from £510,000 to £1.29m.
Tourism Alliance chief Marc Crothall said there was “deep concern” at the figures.
A number of sporting grounds also face rises - the rateable value of Hampden Park rises from £1m to £1.35m and Ibrox from £1.1m to £1.27m, while the biggest Premier League loser in percentage terms is Ross County, whose Victoria Park ground goes from £20,600 to £32,250.
However most Premier League clubs enjoy a fall in their rateable value, with Celtic Park falling from £1.8m to £1.58m. Scottish Rugby is also an extraordinary winner, with the rateable value of Murrayfield falling from £2.1m to £1.5m, despite a new tram link to the Edinburgh ground.
The SECC campus in Glasgow falls from £3.5m to £3.1m.
Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf course and hotel in Ayrshire is revalued from £1.034m to £1.477m, while his Menie course goes from £205,000 to £235,000.
The Scottish Football Association said rate changes were a matter for each individual club.
A spokesman for the council umbrella body Cosla said the rises affecting council building had already been factored into the budget for local government for 2017-18.
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