The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LSRG) has launched for East Devon businesses which provide direct in-person services from premises and are required to close from 5th November until 2nd December.

Eligible businesses can now apply for these grants and East Devon District Council will also be writing directly to businesses to raise awareness of this scheme. To be able to process grants as quickly as possible, the Council asks businesses not to contact them about the grants, but to visit eastdevon.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-grants to check their eligibility.

The Government’s list of business types which must close includes businesses providing non-essential retail; personal care facilities; hospitality venues and leisure/entertainment.

The amount of grant funding that businesses which are required to close could receive is dependent on the current rateable value (RV) of their premises. Premises with an RV of £15k and under will receive £1,334. Those with an RV over £15K and below £51K will receive £2,000. Premises with an RV over £51k will receive £3,000. Payment of this grant covers a four week period. A further grant of the same amount can be claimed in the event of the national restrictions being extended by any further 4 week period.  

To make a claim, businesses will need their business rate bill account number - an 8 digit number which can be found on business rates bills.

Officers at the Council will be working as quickly as possible to process the claims and cannot respond to each business with updates, so please remain patient. 

Councillor Paul Hayward, East Devon District Council’s Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Economy and Assets, said:

I am extremely happy that East Devon District Council is able to offer support to those businesses directly affected by the latest national COVID-19 restrictions. I would urge all those organisations who receive a letter from us to respond as quickly as possible so that claims can be processed without delay and funds made available to those in need during these difficult, and worrying, economic times. Our website (detailed below) contains full details of the scheme, together with a vast amount of additional related information to assist, support and reassure all of our residents and commercial customers.

A further discretionary grant scheme, the Additional Restrictions Grant, will be available towards the end this month. This will be for businesses not eligible for the LSRG but which can evidence that the current national restrictions have had a significant adverse impact on their business. Full details of this grant scheme will be available at our Business Grants webpage.