The guidelines on the operation of the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) now include guidance for the construction industry affected by restrictions in place from 8 January 2021. Construction businesses affected by these restrictions, in general, are unlikely to qualify for the CRSS.
Section 4.2 of the guidelines now provides information for construction businesses affected by COVID-19 restrictions as follows:
Covid restrictions applying to construction from 8 January 2021
Under the Regulations in place from 8 January 2021, non-essential construction and development activities are required to close temporarily.
To qualify for CRSS, a business must, under specific terms of the Covid restrictions, be required to either prohibit or significantly restrict, customers from accessing their business premises to purchase goods or services, with the result that the business either has to temporarily close or to operate at a significantly reduced level.
Construction businesses not providing essential construction or development services, in general, will not qualify for CRSS. This is on the basis that any resultant reduction in turnover is not as a direct result of Covid restrictions which require the business to prohibit or restrict access to customers to their business premises to purchase goods or services. Such businesses are therefore not eligible to make a claim to for an ACTE under CRSS.