Additional funding available for Cheshire West and Chester businesses

The COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) supports businesses that have been affected by the pandemic, that are ineligible for existing support linked to Business Rates.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has a further £7,703,055 from the Government to support local businesses.

Where a business has been adversely affected by the pandemic and unable to adequately adapt to that impact the Council will award relief of 100 per cent of their 2021/22 business rate liability up to a rateable value of £15,000. Where a business has a rateable value of over £15,000 the council will award up to an additional 5 per cent.  The total amount  of relief that will be awarded to a business is capped at 2 per cent of the government funding including those that have multiple assessments.

Businesses will be required to evidence the impact of COVID and sign a declaration to confirm that they do not exceed subsidy levels

To be eligible:

• The Business must have been adversely affected by Covid-19 and suffered a trading loss.
• The business must have been in occupation of their premises and trading or providing a service during the period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2022
• Businesses must be liable to pay Business Rates between the period 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2022

All awards will be by a credit against the business rates account, it is not expected that any cash payments will be made.

The Council aims to contact businesses with a decision within 20 working days of an application being received. If an application is successful, rate relief will be applied, and a revised bill issued.

Councillor Carol Gahan Cabinet Member for Legal and Finance said: “The Council has been supporting businesses with government grant payments throughout the pandemic.

“I’d urge any business that have been affected and are eligible for the additional relief funding to submit an application.”

Applications are open from 18 March until 17 April 2022 using this form.