Local Restrictions Support Grant for closed businesses now available in the Lancaster district

The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) is available to eligible business premises, dependent upon their rateable value, for each full two-week period of closure from October 17, when localised restrictions began.

The council aims to pay businesses within three working days of a successful application and then automatically recurring while Tier 3 restrictions remain in force and the business closure is still in place.

Affected businesses are:

• Pubs and bars that cannot operate as if they were a restaurant.

• Night Clubs

• Adult gaming industry

• Bingo halls

• Bookmakers and betting shops

• Casinos

• Car boot sales

• Soft play areas

The level of grant is set at £667 per two weeks for premises with a rateable value of £15,000 or less, £1,000 for those with a rateable value between £15,001 and less than £51,000, and £1,500 for those with a rateable value of £51,000 or above.

Eligibility criteria for the scheme has been set by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and this scheme may be subject to change or further refinement. It includes the relevant state aid regulations with which businesses must comply.

Coun Tim Hamilton-Cox, cabinet member with responsibility for sustainable economic prosperity, said: “Many local businesses face an extremely challenging situation over which they have no control and the city council will continue to do all it can to support them during these unprecedented times.

“These grants do not need to be repaid so there’s no reason for a business not to apply – it’s financial help to which they are entitled.

“Additional discretionary support will also be available soon with criteria still being determined. This discretionary support may cover those businesses not forced to close but that have been adversely affected by the restrictions, or those that have been forced to close but which don’t pay business rates.

“Our Business Support Hub is also available to provide guidance on existing support programmes as well as offer general advice and support to help businesses combat the pressures they may have found themselves under in the wake of the coronavirus. It can be contacted by emailing [email protected].”

For more information and to apply, go online hereFull details of any discretionary funding available and an application process will be published on the same webpage once further guidance has been received.