Updated 30 November 2020

Jump to: Local Restrictions Support Grant Scheme

    

Additional Restrictions Grant

Plymouth City Council has been allocated £5.2 million through the Government’s Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) to support local businesses that have been most impacted by the current national coronavirus restrictions.

The discretionary funding will support businesses that cannot claim from the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) scheme, which gives grants to rate-paying businesses that have been forced to close due to the national restrictions in place from 5 November to 2 December.

Businesses may be eligible to apply for financial support through the ARG if they:

• Have been legally required to close under current national restrictions but were not eligible for the Local Restrictions Support Grant as they do not pay business rates, or pay packaged rent and rates
• Have not been legally required to close but have suffered a significant loss in turnover as a result of the national restrictions

Applications for the ARG scheme are now live, and can be acccessed through the Plymouth City Council website.

In order to claim a grant, businesses must meet certain criteria, which can be found on the Additional Restrictions Grant page along with more information.   

   

Local Restrictions Support Grant scheme

The Government’s Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) scheme is available to support businesses that have been legally required to close due to coronavirus and occupy a rateable property.

Eligible businesses can claim the following grants, based on their rateable value:

• For properties with a rateable value of £15,000 or under, grants to be £1,334 per 28 days;
• For properties with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000, grants to be £2,000 per 28 days;
• For properties with a rateable value of £51,000 or over, grants to be £3,000 per 28 days.

If you’re eligible you can apply for the grant on the Plymouth City Council website.

You can view the full list of businesses required to close and find the detailed eligiblity criteria.

The full list of businesses that are required to close is available here and you can access the detailed eligibility criteria here.  

    

Frequently Asked Questions

   

How do I know if I am eligible? 

The Government’s Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) scheme is available to support businesses that have been legally required to close and occupy a rateable property.  

   

How do I apply? 

Complete the online application form here.

To apply you’ll need: 

• Your Business rates account number 
• Your business bank details and an image of your business bank statement or cheque book 

Where possible and you are able, please complete this online form to ensure that we’re able to process forms and support as quickly as possible. 

   

How much grant funding am I eligible for:  

Businesses that are required to close in England* due to the national restrictions will be eligible for the following: 

• For properties with a rateable value of £15,000 or under, grants to be £1,334 per 28 days; 
• For properties with a rateable value between £15,000 and below £51,000, grants to be £2,000 per 28 days; 
• For properties with a rateable value of £51,000 or over, grants to be £3,000 per 28days. 

*See the GOV.UK website for a list of businesses which must close as part of national lockdown restrictions. 

    

I have received a email but it is not addressed to me/has incorrect details, what do I do?  

Please complete this change of details form, our Business Rates Team will email you with confirmation that your details have been updated. 

    

When will I find out if I am successful?  

Once you’ve submitted your form you’ll receive a confirmation email to say that we’ve received your application. We’ll contact you if we require any additional information within five working days of receiving your information. 

    

When will I get the money? 

Payments will be made direct into your business bank account within 10 days once information has been received via your application form and verified by our anti-fraud checks. 

    

How will the funding be paid? Can I have it in a different bank account? 

Payments must be made to the business bank account or in the name of the applicant  

    

Will there be any check regarding state aid? 

The Local Restrictions Support Grant counts towards state aid. The rules are fully explained in the government state aid guidance. By accepting this grant you must confirm that you are not in breach of these rules. 

    

Are payments subject to tax? 

Grant income received by your business is taxable.  

    

Am I eligible if I have adapted my business to offer takeaway or click and collect services? 

Non-essential retail, personal services or cafes/restaurants that operate primarily as an in-person venue, but which have been forced to close those services and provide a takeaway-only service instead will still be eligible for the grant.  

    

Are hotels and other accommodation providers able to access the LRSG grant if they remain open to accommodate individuals travelling for work purposes or other exempt purposes (e.g. domestic violence victims)? 

Yes, if a hotel or accommodation business is required to close their main business offering under LCAL 3 they will be eligible for a grant.

    

Need more assistance?

If you are unable to complete the form online or have a query that has not been answered above, please contact the Plymouth City Council Business Grant helpline on 01752 308984. This will be open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

To help our team, please have your Business Rates account number (8 characters, beginning with a 7) ready before calling if possible. 

We expect this number to be busy, so if you are able to complete the form without assistance then please do so. This will enable us to help those who do not have online access or need some help in other ways.