Local Restrictions Support Grant - Closed Business

This grant scheme supports businesses in Preston with a rateable value, that have been instructed to close due to either local lockdown restrictions, or national closures, imposed by Government.

Who qualifies for this grant?

Your business may be eligible if it was:

• Required to close as a result of the various Tier restrictions for Lancashire, including Local Restrictions that came into force on 17 October 2020 for pubs, bars and licensed clubs not operating as restaurants and 19 October for other affected businesses, including adult gaming centres, bingo halls, casinos, bookmakers and betting shops, Children's soft play centres and car boot sales
• Required to close between 5 November 2020 to 2 December 2020 and then again on the 5 January 2021 due to the national lockdown, including non-essential retail, leisure, personal care, sports facilities and hospitality businesses
• Required to remain closed from 2 December under Tier 3 restrictions
• Required to close on 31 December 2020 under Tier 4 restrictions
• Have not been allowed to re-open since 23 March due to national restrictions eg. nightclubs, hostess bar

A business that has been unable to provide its usual in-person customer service from its premises, for example a restaurant that has had to close its substantive business, but is providing a takeaway service, or a hotel that has had to close its main business is deemed to be closed.

The business must occupy property on which it pays business rates to Preston City Council (if you are in receipt of business rates relief you are also eligible), and must have been open and trading up to the date the restriction that applies to your business came into force and you were then forced to close under the provisions of the local or national restriction.

Who does not qualify?

Your business will not be eligible if it:

• Has been able to continue to operate during the lockdown because it does not depend on providing direct in-person services from its premises
• Has chosen to close
• Has reached the state aid limit. The Local Restrictions Support Grant counts towards state aid. Payments count towards the total de minimis state aid allowed over a three-year period (€200,000). If you have reached that threshold, you may still be eligible for funding under the COVID-19 Temporary Framework where the limit is €800,000.  For further details please visit our state aid information page. 
• Is in administration, insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been made
• Businesses which were not ratepayers in the business rates system upon the date that the business entered the Local or National Restrictions Grant Scheme are ineligible
• Is in areas outside the scope of the localised restrictions, as defined by Government

Businesses that have substantially altered their business model in order to trade should enquire with the Business Rate Team at NNDR@preston.gov.uk as to whether their original business model remains their substantive business.

How much is the grant?

The amount you get depends on the rateable value of your property on the first full day of either local or national restrictions:

• If your business is eligible and has a property with a rateable value of £15,000 or under, you will receive grants of £667 per two weeks of enforced closure (£1,334 per 4 weeks period)
• If your business is eligible and has a property with a rateable value of over £15,000 and less than £51,000, you will receive grants of £1,000 per two weeks of enforced closure (£2,000 per 4 week period)
• If your business is eligible and has a property with a rateable value of £51,000 or over, you will receive grants of £1,500 per two weeks of enforced closure (£3,000 per 4 weeks)

How to apply

If your business has been instructed to close, please complete our online form:

Apply for the Local Restrictions Support Grant

If you are able to apply online this is the quickest way for your application to be processed. If you have any problems with the online form, please let us know and we will be happy to assist you.

To request a paper application form please email nndr@preston.gov.uk.

If you have any questions about this scheme please contact the Business Support Team by email at nndr@preston.gov.uk.

Other Information

Eligible businesses will receive one grant for each property liable for business rates within the Preston City Council area and we aim to pay successful applications within seven working days upon receipt of a valid application.

Appropriate business grants will be made for the dates your business has been closed depending on the various Tiers and lockdown restrictions.

Businesses that have not been allowed to re-open since 23 March eg. nightclubs will be paid retrospectively back to when the grant started on 1 November.

As restrictions continue any further payments due should be automatically generated for all businesses still forced to close, subject to the specific LCAL "Tier" Preston is subjected to.