Capital Grant Funding under CSS

We are pleased to have been able to assist a number of landowners with gaining approval for stand alone grant funding under Countryside Stewardship. As many are starting to think about making a start on capital projects, it is important to remember to keep records of the works you complete during your #CountrysideStewardship agreement. The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) recommend that you take photographs before, during and after completing any capital works.

For advice or assistance with Countryside Stewardship Capital Grant or Mid or Higher Tier applications, get in touch:

New Capital Grant Funding Opportunities For Landowners

Following changes to Countryside Stewardship rules, greater opportunities have opened up for landowners wishing to claim capital grants and stewardship payments. 

Due to changes to the rules, landowners with tenanted land can now claim capital grants and annual stewardship payments under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme. 

• Along with annual payments, capital grants are available for items such as the following:

  •        Fencing

  •        Sheep netting

  •        New hedgerows and restoration of existing hedgerows

  •       Stone walling

  •        Concreting yards

  •      Livestock drinking troughs

  •      Livestock and machinery tracks

  •      New field gates

  •      Permenant electric fencing

  •        Water gates

  •   Tree planting and tree guards

  •       Wildlife boxes

  •    Biofilters

  •       Drainage, piped culverts and ditches

  •        Tree surgery

  •        Rainwater goods

  •      Sheep dip related items and drainage

  •      Check dams

  •        Sprayer washdown areas

  • Watercourse crossings

  • Hard bases for feed and drinking troughs

  • Ram pumps, pastrure pumps and associated pipework

    (Further capital grants are available under the Higher Tier of the scheme).

• The scheme is due to open for applications in February. Those wishing to claim or enter the scheme this year have a short window to get prepared. Get in touch if you would like assistance with preparing an application or for further information on the scheme.

For further information or assistance with applications, get in touch.

Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier Deadline Extension

Farmers and landowners wanting to enter their land into a Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier agreement have been given an extension until 31st August 2020 to submit an application. In order to avail of the extension, applicants must inform Natural England prior to the original deadline of 31st July 2020 and must be in receipt of their application pack.

The scheme provides opportunities to claim an area-based payment which is paid per hectare of land entered into the scheme in return for implementing environmental management measures. The scheme operates on a points based system and the applicant chooses a range of environmental management options which suit their farming system. The applicant must also ensure that the chosen options fit around any Basic Payment Scheme Greening rules such as Ecological Focus Areas (EFA’s).

Along with the area-based payment, there are options to claim additional capital grant funding under the scheme. For applicants within a former Catchment Sensitive Farming area, this also encompasses Water Capital Grants for items such as fencing, concreting yards and covering yards, to name a few.

For more information or assistance with completing a Countryside Stewardship Mid-Tier application, you can contact me on: e-mail: yvonne@daviesrural.co.uk. or 07792761168.

Planning Changes - Conversion of Business Units To Residential Use

The latest changes to planning permitted development rules allow some business units to be redeveloped to residential use. The new rules come into effect from 31st August 2020 and apply to buildings that were built before 1st January 1990.

The building must have been vacant for 6 months prior to any permitted development application and the the proposed residential use can only relate to residential flats or apartments. it does not apply for conversions to houses.

The proposal must comply with building regulations and the developer must prepare are construction management plan. the proposed conversion must mirror the existing footprint of the building and can not exceed 1,000 suare meters. The maximum height must not exceed 18 meters.

For further information, please feel free to get in touch: https://bit.ly/3jHaVg4