Tag: Grants

English Grant Schemes

Countryside Stewardship Scheme

Similar to last year, delays are expected in issuing Countryside Stewardship Agreements.  Although the problem is not expected to affect as many potential agreement holders as the previous year, there are still going to be a significant number of Mid-tier Agreements due to commence on 1st January 2018 which will not have been sent to applicants by the end of December.  Natural England will write to those affected and will remind them that scheme rules have to be adhered to from 1st January if they intend to sign their contract offer.  Applicants are also reminded to check their Agreements carefully and that any mapping updates which may have taken place due to the RPA’s Proactive Land Change Detection (PLCD) are correct.

According to feedback, uptake for the scheme this year hasn’t been much better than in 2016, hence DEFRA offering the Streamlined options (see earlier article) in 2018.  It also looks likely that the application deadline next year will be brought forward (possibly to 31st July) to give Natural England more time to process applications so that we do not see delays in offers being made again next year.

Countryside Productivity Small Grants Scheme

The Countryside Productivity Small Grants Scheme is to be re-launched in 2018.  Currently there are no details on the funding available, but previously up to 40% was provided towards grants of between £2,500 and £35,000.  This time the scheme is expected to be similar to the Welsh Farm Business Grant Scheme which provides a set list of eligible items and the grant that is payable, making the application process a lot simpler.  Applications will be online, with potentially 3 to 4 rounds available next year, the first round could be open for applications as early as January 2018.

Other Grants Available

A reminder that other funding is also available through the LEADER programme and the Growth Programme.  See earlier article for further information on the Growth Programme. LEADER is delivered via Local Action Groups (LAGs).  Potential applicants have to make contact with their local LAG to ascertain what support there is.  Funding is usually available around the following themes:

  • increasing farm productivity
  • micro/small and start-up enterprises and farm diversification –  i.e butchery, farm shops, ice-cream parlours
  • rural tourism, cultural and heritage activity – e.g. ‘glamping’ projects
  • increasing forestry productivity
  • provision of rural services

Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rural-development-programme-for-england-leader-funding

More Rural Growth Funding

The Growth Programme under the RDPE is to receive an extra £45m of funding.  The DEFRA Secretary, Michael Gove, announced this in an address to the CLA Conference on the 28th November.  Applications are now open for the new round of funding.  As announced last month, the scheme will remain open for Expressions of Interest until 31st May 2018.

As the name suggests, the Growth Programme provides funding for projects in England which create jobs and help grow the rural economy.  There are three types of grant available;

  • Business development
  • Food processing
  • Rural tourism infrastructure

The funding is delivered through 37 Local Enterprise Partnerships.  Each one has set different priorities with not all of the grants being available in all regions.  It is necessary to look at the scheme handbooks to see what is being funded in a particular locality.  These can be found at – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rdpe-growth-programme .  In general, the Growth Programme tends to fund larger-scale projects with grants usually covering 40% of costs with a minimum grant of £35,000.  Those with smaller schemes can potential find funding under the LEADER scheme.

English Grants

Countryside Productivity Grants Extended

New grant funding is available for farmers in England to improve productivity and add value to farm produce.  An extra £40m is being committed to the Countryside Productivity Scheme (CPS).  As reported on in August, this was already open for forestry and water management projects, but is now being extended further.

Grants of 40% are available, with the minimum grant level being £35,000 and the maximum £1m under the productivity strand.  Examples of the type of productivity investments that will be funded under the CPS are; 

  • robotic equipment and systems to aid production including robotic milkers and robotic harvesters
  • equipment to increase the use of renewable energy produced on farm (but not equipment for the generation of energy).  Includes heat distribution systems and battery storage for renewables
  • LED lighting for crop production
  • slurry and digestate management equipment

Funding for processing to add value is available for most farm produce including milk, eggs, meat grain, fruit and vegetables.  Applicants for these grants have to submit an Expression of Interest before being selected for a full application.  The deadline to submit EOI is 29th June 2018.  Under the Productivity strand, there is a single-stage application process with a deadline of 3rd December 2018.  For more details see – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/countryside-productivity-scheme 

Growth Programme

The deadline for applications to the Growth Programme under the RDPA has been extended until 31st May 2018.  The deadline for submitting Expressions of Interest was previously going to be 31st January 2018.  The Growth Programme provides funding for projects in England which create jobs and help grow the rural economy.  The funding is delivered through Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPS) who have developed local strategies and priorities.  There are 39 LEPs in England.  Funding is available in three areas; Business Development, Food Processing and Rural Tourism Infrastructure.  More information can be found on the Government website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rdpe-growth-programme