The Government has provided funding to local authorities, under the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG), for businesses required to close during the current national lockdown.

This grant is an extension of the Local Restrictions Support Grant schemes for businesses that were required to close in November and during Tier 4 restrictions.

A separate, one-off payment is also available under the Closed Businesses Lockdown Payment scheme. It is expected that local authorities will pay all eligible businesses the two scheme payments together.

Eligible businesses will qualify for grants if

  • They are subject to their own business rates assessment; and
  • Their premises were required to close by law under the national lockdown restrictions from 5 January 2021.

Pubs and restaurants not able to admit customers but which are offering takeaway, click and collect or delivery services will be treated as closed for the purposes of this grant.

Other eligibility criteria may apply, please see individual local authority websites for details.

Grant amount

The amount of grant payable is based on the business property’s rateable value as shown in the business rates list at the start of the national lockdown on 5 January 2021.

As the lockdown is initially due to last for six weeks, the LRSG is payable for the full forty-two day period of the restrictions.

The grant amounts payable are specified on each local authority website and will be confirmed by them to eligible businesses.

Government guidance indicates that the following grant thresholds will apply for the forty-two period of closure:

  • Businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or under will receive a payment of £2,001;
  • Businesses with a rateable value of over £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive a payment of £3,000; and
  • Businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or above will receive a payment of £4,500.

How to apply

The Local Restrictions Support Grant is available through local authorities, with application information detailed on their individual websites – please see links below.

Many local authorities state that if an application form has already been completed for the Local Restrictions Grant Scheme (LRSG) for the National Lockdown 5 November 2020 to 2 December 2020, there is no requirement to apply for further funding. Eligible businesses will automatically receive the funding based on the details in their original application form.

All businesses that did not apply for the original LRSG will need to complete the application forms available on their local authority’s website.

There is no need to complete two separate applications for the LRSG and the Closed Businesses Lockdown Payment scheme, both should be processed together.

Links for local authority websites in our region can be found below

Breckland Council

Broadland District Council

Great Yarmouth Borough Council

King’s Lynn and West Norfolk

North Norfolk District Council

Norwich City Council

South Norfolk Council