New grants launched for businesses closed by local lockdowns

Businesses in England that are required to shut due to local lockdowns or targeted restrictions will now be able to claim up to £1,500 per property every three weeks. However, any businesses still closed at a national level, such as nightclubs, will not be eligible.

To be eligible, a business must have been required to close due to local Covid-19 restrictions, with the largest businesses receiving £1,500 every three weeks they are required to close.

Businesses that occupy a premises with a rateable value less than £51,000 or occupy a property or part of a property subject to an annual rent or mortgage payment of less than £51,000 will receive £1,000. Businesses over this threshold will receive £1,500.

Payments are triggered by a national decision to close businesses in a high incidence area. Each payment will be made for a three-week lockdown period. Each new three-week lockdown period will trigger an additional payment.

Local authorities will also receive an additional 5% top up amount of business support funding to enable them to help other businesses affected by closures which may not be on the business rates list. Payments made to businesses from this discretionary fund can be any amount up to £1,500.

Chief secretary to the Treasury Steve Barclay said: "These grants provide businesses with a safety net as they temporarily close their doors to help save lives in their local areas.

"As local economies eventually and carefully reopen after local interventions, our plan for jobs is there waiting to help businesses get back on their feet, protect jobs and thrive in the future."

Business secretary Alok Sharma said: "No business should be punished for doing the right thing, which is why today's package will offer additional breathing space for businesses that have had to temporarily close to control the virus.

"Through our wider plan for jobs, we will continue to back our innovators and job creators across the country who are playing a critical role as we build back better from the pandemic."

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