Briefing pack

RDPE Schemes Launch 2015

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Where can applicants find out further information on schemes?.................................5

GOV.UK pages........................................................................................................5

Helpline details........................................................................................................6

Mailboxes................................................................................................................6

Key day-to-day contacts for scheme offers.............................................................7

Defra policy and delivery body leads.......................................................................8

Communications leads............................................................................................9

Rural Development Programme................................................................................10

Overview................................................................................................................10

What is available?.................................................................................................10

Countryside Stewardship..........................................................................................11

Overview................................................................................................................11

What is available?.................................................................................................11

How can applicants apply?....................................................................................11

Q&A.......................................................................................................................11

Countryside Stewardship – woodlands and forestry.................................................18

Overview................................................................................................................18

Countryside Stewardship – woodland capital offer...................................................19

Overview................................................................................................................19

What is available?.................................................................................................19

How can applicants apply?....................................................................................19

Q&A.......................................................................................................................20

Countryside Stewardship – water capital offer..........................................................21

Overview................................................................................................................21

What is available?.................................................................................................21

How can applicants apply?....................................................................................21

Q&A.......................................................................................................................22

Countryside Stewardship – facilitation fund..............................................................242

Overview................................................................................................................24

What is available?.................................................................................................24

How can applicants apply?....................................................................................24

Q&A.......................................................................................................................25

Do all the farmers in the group have to be making Countryside Stewardship applications in the same year or could they be making their applications in different years?.......................................................................................................................25

Overview................................................................................................................26

What is available?.................................................................................................26

How can applicants apply?....................................................................................26

Q&A.......................................................................................................................27

Countryside Productivity – Capital grants offer.........................................................28

Overview................................................................................................................28

What is available?.................................................................................................28

How can applicants apply?....................................................................................28

Q&A.......................................................................................................................29

Countryside Productivity – European Innovation Partnership...................................31

Overview................................................................................................................31

What is available?.................................................................................................31

How can applicants apply?....................................................................................31

Q&A.......................................................................................................................32

Growth Programme...................................................................................................34

Overview................................................................................................................34

What is available?.................................................................................................34

How can applicants apply?....................................................................................34

Q&A.......................................................................................................................35

LEADER....................................................................................................................39

Overview................................................................................................................39

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What is available?.................................................................................................39

How can applicants apply?....................................................................................39

Q&A.......................................................................................................................40

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Where can applicants find out further information on schemes?

GOV.UK pages

Rural Payments page: www.gov.uk/rural-payments

RDPE page:To be updated shortly:https://www.gov.uk/rural-development-programme-for-england

RDPE Programme Document page:

To be updated shortly with separate 2007-13 page and new RDPE page, including 2014-2020 programme document:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rdpe-programme-document

RDPE Network page: www.rdpenetwork.defra.gov.uk

Countryside Stewardship page: To be published in next few weeks.

Woodland capital applications: www.gov.uk/government/collections/countryside-stewardship-woodland-funding

Water capital applications:To be updated shortly: www.gov.uk/catchment-sensitive-farming-reduce-agricultural-water-pollution

Facilitation applications: To be published in next few weeks.

Countryside Productivity page: To be published in next few weeks.

Countryside Productivity grant applications: To be published in next few weeks.

RDPE Growth Programme page: To be published in next few weeks.

ESIF Growth Programme page:

www.gov.uk/england-2014-to-2020-european-structural-and-investment-funds-growth-programme

LEADER page:To be updated shortly:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/leader-approach-in-the-rdpe-national-delivery-framework

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Helpline details

Rural Payments helpline number: 0300 0200 301

Woodland capital contact number: 0300 067 4070

Countryside Productivity grants offer contact number: 0300 060 4761

Water capital contact number: 0300 060 1111CS Facilitation fund offer contact number: To be confirmed

Growth Programme grants offer contact number: 01900 700482

Other ESIF funds contact number: To be confirmed

RDPE Network contact number:

LEADER contact number: 01768 215805

Other socioeconomic schemes number: 0300 060 4761

Basic Payments Scheme contact number: 0300 0200 301

Mailboxes

Rural Payments mailbox: ruralpayments@rpa.gsi.gov.uk

RDPE Network mailbox: rdpenetwork@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Woodland capital offer mailbox: mailto:grnationalteam@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Countryside Productivity grants offer mailbox: To be confirmed

Countryside Productivity EIP Notification of Ideas mailbox: EIP-Agri-England@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Water capital offer mailbox: catchmentsensitivefarming@naturalengland.org.uk

Countryside Stewardship offer facilitation mailbox: To be confirmed

Growth Programme grants offer mailbox: To be confirmed

Basic Payments Scheme mailbox: ruralpayments@rpa.gsi.gov.uk

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Key day-to-day contacts for scheme offers

Name Email Telephone

Rural Payments:Woodland capital Joe Watts Joe.watts@Forestry.gsi.gov.uk 07788 190 733

Woodland capital Sam Neck samantha.neck@forestry.gsi.gov.uk 0300 067 4110

Countryside Productivity grants:

Robin Healey Robin.Healey@rpa.gsi.gov.uk 0300 060 0852

Countryside Productivity EIP Notification of Ideas:

Fay Collington Fay.Collington@defra.gsi.gov.uk 03000 603 923

Water capital: Vanessa Cox Vanessa.cox@naturalengland.org.uk 07825 124107

Countryside Stewardship facilitation:

Andy Williams andy.williams@defra.gsi.gov.uk 0117 372 3534

Growth Programme: Andy Tordoff Andy.tordoff@rpa.gsi.gov.uk 0300 060 4456

LEADER: Jacquie Middleton Jacquie.Middleton@defra.gsi.gov.uk 01932 357819

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Defra policy and delivery body leads

Name Email Telephone

RDPE: John Place john.place@defra.gsi.gov.uk 07881 502517

RDPE Network Ed Dyson edward.dyson@defra.gsi.gov.uk 0117 372 3615

Countryside Stewardship:Defra – CS scheme Clive Porro clive.porro@defra.gsi.gov.uk 07990 780244

Defra – woodland capital

Paula Reading Paula.Reading@defra.gsi.gov.uk 0117 372 3564

Defra – water capital

Stephen Almond Stephen.Almond@defra.gsi.gov.uk 0207 238 4668

Defra – water capital Susie Willows susie.willows@DEFRA.GSI.GOV.UK 0207 238 3189

Defra – Facilitation fund Andy Williams andy.williams@defra.gsi.gov.uk

Natural England

Martin Froment martin.a.froment@naturalengland.org.uk 07748 146868

Natural England

James LePage James.M.LePage@naturalengland.org.uk 01677 470722

Natural England, Water Capital Grants

Bob Middleton Bob.Middleton@naturalengland.org.uk 0300 060 0560

Forestry Commission Joe Watts Joe.Watts@forestry.gsi.gov.uk 07788 190 733

Countryside Productivity:

Defra: Helen Diplock Helen.diplock@defra.gsi.gov.uk 0207 238 2037

RPA Robin Healey Robin.Healey@rpa.gsi.gov.uk 0300 060 0852

Growth Programme:

Defra: Jackie Clayton Jackie.Clayton@defra.gsi.gov.uk 0207 238 5847

RPA: Andy Tordoff Andy.tordoff@rpa.gsi.gov.uk 0300 060 4456

LEADER:

Defra: David Wilford David.Wilford@defra.gsi.gov.uk 07775 027760

RPA: Jacquie Middleton Jacquie.Middleton@rpa.gsi.gov.uk 01932 357819

Communications leads8

Name Email Telephone

RDPE: Nina Hassall nina.hassall@defra.gsi.gov.uk 0207 238 4707

RDPE Network Liz Sheppard liz.sheppard@defra.gsi.gov.uk 0207 238 6372

Countryside Stewardship:

Defra: Lesley Taylor Lesley.Taylor@defra.gsi.gov.uk 0207 238 5993

brucNatural England Dawn Metcalfe Dawn.Metcalfe@naturalengland.org.u

k 0300 060 1611

Natural England Annie Swift Annie.Swift@naturalengland.org.uk 0300 060 0465

Natural England: Water capital

Vanessa Cox Vanessa.cox@naturalengland.org.uk 07825 124107

Forestry Commission

Louisa Aveyard louisa.aveyard@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Countryside Productivity:

Defra: Gary Larkman Gary.larkman@defra.gsi.gov.uk 0207 238 6172

RPA Bruce Douglas Bruce.Douglas@rpa.gsi.gov.uk 07712 678872

Growth Programme:

Defra: Jane Goodwin jane.goodwin@defra.gsi.gov.uk 0117 372 3568

RPA: Bruce Douglas Bruce.Douglas@rpa.gsi.gov.uk 07712 678872

LEADER:

Defra: Steve Gilson Steve.Gilson@defra.gsi.gov.uk 0207 238 1044

RPA: Bruce Douglas Bruce.Douglas@rpa.gsi.gov.uk 07712 678872

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Rural Development Programme

Overview

The new Rural Development Programme in England will invest at least £3.5bn from 2014 to 2020. Over £3bn is for the environment.

Nearly £500m will help grow farming, food and the rural economy. We are aiming to protect the natural environment on 2.5m ha of our farmed

land, create around 6,750 jobs and fund planting of 14,000 ha of trees.

What is available?

The new RDP has four elements:

Countryside Stewardship (£3.1bn) – £900m of which will fund farmers and foresters over 5 years to manage land in ways that benefit the environment, and give grants for items such as woodland creation, restoring hedges and improving water quality. The new scheme will support farmers and foresters to make the improvements needed in their local area. Around £2.1bn will pay farmers and foresters who are already in environmental schemes from the previous programme.

Countryside Productivity (£141m) – helping the farming and forestry industry to become highly skilled and new farmers to start-up a business. Helping develop world class production and supply chains through working together to use the best new technology and innovation and by collaborating to develop their sectors.

Growth Programme (£177m) – helping get new rural businesses off the ground and existing businesses to develop new products and facilities, investing in broadband and renewable energy and promoting rural tourism. LEPs and local partners will help us decide how to spend funds in their area.

LEADER (£138m) – giving local communities the responsibility and resources to identify local needs and fund projects to meet them. Local LEADER groups will decide how to spend funds in their area. At least 70% of this will go directly on job creation and growth.

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Countryside StewardshipOverviewCountryside Stewardship is a voluntary and competitive scheme that will be more targeted and focused than previous schemes. It will be open to all eligible farmers, foresters and land managers. It will contribute around £900 million to rural businesses to help improve the countryside environment (in addition to £2.1 billion for existing scheme agreements). The new scheme will replace:

• Environmental Stewardship (ES)• the English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS)• capital grants from the Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) programme.

What is available?Land managers, farmers, foresters, land owners or tenants can apply for funding or grants for an agreed range of management and works, subject to eligibility criteria and a competitive application process. All applications from summer 2015 will be processed through a new online service.

Current plans are that farmers and land managers can start applying for Countryside Stewardship from July 2015. Agreements and payments will begin in 2016.

Some woodland capital grants [link to section] are available now. Some water capital grants [link to section] will be available in early March 2015. A facilitation fund [link to section] will be available later in March 2015.

How can applicants apply?Those wishing to apply for Countryside Stewardship first need to register with Gov.UK Verify for the new Rural Payments service (if not already registered for the Basic Payment Scheme - only one registration is necessary).

All scheme applications need to be made online. Applicants can see what the Countryside Stewardship priorities are for their land and choose which land management options to use (there are more than 100 to choose from). This means that applicants can tailor their application to ensure the most benefit for their local area making it more likely that their application will succeed and that they obtain an agreement.

Q&A

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How have you involved stakeholders in the development of the Countryside Stewardship scheme?Stakeholders have been involved at every stage of scheme development. They have actively taken part in individual review groups which examined each of the proposed scheme options and considered the scope for additions or amendments. They also contributed to the development of targeting and scoring mechanisms (led through Local Nature Partnerships [LNPs]).

Defra officials hold monthly informal meetings with industry and environmental organisations to discuss emerging thinking and to seek views on further scheme development. Representatives of particular stakeholder organisations also meet officials on request and they had the opportunity to submit and present their own propositions for new scheme design.

Will existing Environmental Stewardship agreements continue?Yes until they expire during (and in some cases, beyond) the lifetime of the next Programme.

What is the effect of a reduced budget and how much will be available for Countryside Stewardship?Due to existing commitments under Environmental Stewardship and the English Woodland Grant Scheme, which stretch well into and beyond this Rural Development Programme, the budget available to pay for Countryside Stewardship agreements will increase gradually as existing agreements expire. We will therefore be looking to maximise opportunities to achieve multiple benefits in new agreements.

More than £3 billion will be available to finance agri-environment agreements in the new Rural Development Programme. About £2.1 billion will fund existing Environmental Stewardship agreements until their expiry. About £900 million will be available for new Countryside Stewardship agreements.

What are the priorities for Countryside Stewardship?The main priority for Countryside Stewardship is biodiversity, with water quality as another important priority. The scheme will also contribute to improvements in flood management, the historic environment, landscape character, genetic conservation, educational access and climate change adaptation and mitigation.

How will the scheme achieve its objectives?Countryside Stewardship will help wildlife and nature by restoring habitats, protecting hedges, providing food and nesting resources for birds, insects and other animals, and creating farmed areas for rare flowering plants. Farmers and other land managers will also be able to provide the right resources for pollinators (pollen and nectar sources and nesting habitat) where they are most needed.

There will be funding for tree planting and to support the management of woodlands. Improvements to water quality will be achieved by making water cleaner and the risk

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of flooding will be reduced by supporting changes to farming practice (such as crop management), improving farm infrastructure, and by creating woodland.

Where possible, the scheme will offer the best opportunities to achieve benefits for biodiversity, water quality and flood management together

What are the main elements of the Countryside Stewardship scheme?

There will be only one multi-annual agreement per holding with no separate strands for organic or upland agreements. There will be a single menu of multi-annual and capital items, although some will not be available to certain types of land manager due to eligibility requirements e.g. options available only for organic farmers. Forestry also has special requirements, and an approved Woodland Management Plan will be required for most woodland managers. There will be three types of agreements:

Higher Tier: For the most environmentally important sites and woodlands. These will usually be in places requiring complex management (such as habitat restoration, woodland creation or tailored measures for priority species). Applicants can use the full range of options and a wide range of capital grants. One-to-one advice and support is available from Natural England and Forestry Commission advisers. The application process will be similar to that for Higher Level Stewardship (HLS). Applicants will need to contact Natural England or the Forestry Commission to check if they meet local Higher Tier targeting requirements before they can apply.

Mid-Tier: Aims to address widespread environmental issues, such as reducing diffuse water pollution or improving the farmed environment for farmland birds and pollinators. Scheme targeting and scoring will encourage applicants to choose options that help to achieve the environmental priorities that are important in their wider area, ensuring that environmental benefits are not limited to individual holdings, but are more widespread.

A range of capital grants to support farming and forestry operations and for water quality improvements to benefit the environment: These grants will be separate to the capital grants offered through the Higher or Mid-Tiers. The grants are for: restoration of hedgerows and other boundary features such as stone walls; to support the production of woodland management plans; woodland creation establishment (with associated multi-annual woodland creation maintenance where applicable); in response to tree health issues; and for feasibility studies and implementation plans. There will also be targeted grants with associated advice for water quality improvements.

The Hedgerows and Boundaries capital grant offers funding to a maximum of £5,000 per applicant for those who do not have a Higher or Mid-Tier agreement or a current Environmental Stewardship agreement. Grants will mainly be for small-scale restoration of boundary features such as hedgerows and stone walls. Major restoration projects would be funded through the Higher Tier.

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How long will agreements last?Most multi-annual agreements will be for 5 years with the option of annual extensions for a further two years. However capital-only agreements may last only one year.

Longer agreements may be available in some exceptional circumstances. Examples of these are:

When the agreement is for water/wetland habitats: e.g. coastal re-alignment, wetlands, salt marsh creation, peat restoration or blanket bog. All of these require complex changes in water flow and retention which have long-term impacts on environmental conditions and land use.

Complex tenure arrangements such as for upland or lowland commons. The negotiation process amongst interested parties is often complex, contentious and time-consuming but secures significant environmental outcomes in areas of high environmental importance.

Woodland creation: Maintenance support is needed for 10 years to ensure the establishment of the trees that have been planted.

Other than for woodland creation support, where 10 year agreements are offered they would include a 5 year break clause which can be activated by either party without financial penalty (similar to HLS).

What advice will be available for Countryside Stewardship?The new Rural Development Regulation requires Member States to ensure that agreement holders are provided with the appropriate knowledge and information required to implement funded operations including relevant expert advice.

Face to face advisory support will be available for Higher Tier agreements (similar to that in Higher Level Stewardship) as the required management on these sites is often complex. The new Mid-Tier approach will be more targeted than Entry Level Stewardship with appropriate online advice available, so a publicly contracted advice stream will no longer be required. There is also a significant private advisory sector which supports development of high quality applications, and privately funded forestry advice. It is important that publicly funded advisory support in the Rural Development Programme does not subvert this development.

Are there any Countryside Stewardship options that benefit pollinators and farmland birds?Yes. There is a Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife Package which, when provided in the right combination and at the right scale will provide benefits for wild pollinators, farmland birds and other wildlife. The package will be available for farmed areas in lowland England. Although voluntary, choosing options from the package will ensure that a Countryside Stewardship application scores more highly.

In the Mid-Tier: applicants can choose from groups of options for arable, mixed or pastoral farm types. Options will need to be applied over 3-5% of the eligible land for the scheme.

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In the Higher Tier: applicants can choose from similar groups of options, but these should cover 5-10% of the eligible land to target a broader range of farmland species and habitats. Applications will include those areas of land that have received previous funding for farm wildlife management (e.g. where an HLS agreement is expiring) or in areas where there are priority farmland species.

The management options in the package are:

Pollen/nectar resources for pollinators and chick-food for birds - management of hedgerows (one/both sides of the hedge); flower-rich margins and plots; Autumn-sown bumble-bird mix (food source for birds and bees); two-year sown legume fallow (flowering crops on fallow land); Legume and herb-rich swards; nectar flower mix.

Nesting sites for birds and pollinators - Flower-rich margins and plots; Beetle banks (strips within a field that provide a hibernating site for bees, encourage beetles, and provide a food source for birds; Cultivated areas for rare arable plants; Permanent grassland with very low inputs (e.g. reduced pesticide/herbicide); taking field corners out of management on grassland (to provide habitat for nesting sites and shelter); Small, medium and large wildlife boxes (only available in Higher Tier); Management of ponds.

Winter food for seed-eating birds: Winter bird food; Ryegrass seed-set as winter/spring food for birds; Basic overwinter stubble; Enhanced overwinter stubble; Brassica food crops; Whole crop cereals.

Evidence (from Environmental Stewardship) suggests that applying a combination of these options over 3-5% of eligible land will bring meaningful changes and benefits. Farmers and land managers applying for the Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife Package will score more highly in their Countryside Stewardship application.

Does the Package Support the government’s National Pollinator Strategy?Yes, the package helps to support the National Pollinator Strategy 2014. This recognises that bees and other pollinators face a variety of pressures and that some are in decline or threatened. Evidence shows that this is partly caused by loss of good quality habitats that feed and shelter them. One of the Strategy’s aims is therefore to expand food, shelter and nesting sites across the country. Farmers and other land managers have an important role to play. By making simple land management changes through the options from the Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife Package they will help to support the aims of the Strategy.

How will Countryside Stewardship applications be scored?Applications should reflect Countryside Stewardship priorities and show that they provide value for money. To score applications we will generally use the priorities highlighted in the national targeting framework and the land management options that applicants have chosen on their land parcels. Exceptions to this will be applications for: woodland management plans; the Hedgerows and Boundaries Capital Grant; facilitation funding; and for woodland tree health, where other approaches will be used.

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Applications for Countryside Stewardship agreements will be scored in comparison to the other applications received and according to the available budget. Therefore the standard which successful applications will have to meet will vary each year. Where necessary we may also adjust the scoring weightings to reflect policy objectives, uptake of agreements and options, environmental prioritisation and developments to the scheme.

Higher Tier applications will be scored by Natural England and the Forestry Commission. Applications for Mid-Tier agreements and the Hedgerows and Boundaries Capital Grants will be scored by an automated process in the new online Rural Payments Service.

The scoring system is still being developed and we will provide more information as soon as possible.

How will the Hedgerows and Boundaries Capital Grants be scored?We are planning for land managers to be able to apply online for these grants between February and April 2016. More details on scoring and how to apply will be available nearer the time.

Why can’t Countryside Stewardship multi-annual agreements start on 1 January 2015?Although we have been working closely with stakeholders to develop the new scheme and the associated IT, we have not been able to make agreements available until the programme was been formally approved by the EU Commission. It is only now, in February 2015, that this has happened. This did not give sufficient time for the IT, and scheme guidance to be finalised and made available to applicants to allow them time to prepare and submit applications in time for a 1 January 2015 start.

What are the payment rates for Countryside Stewardship?The proposed payment rates for the various land management options and capital grants can be found on GOV.UK Countryside Stewardship Payment Rates

I already have an ES agreement – can I apply?If you already have an Environmental Stewardship agreement, this will normally be ‘whole farm’ and it is unlikely therefore that you have land available for a new agreement. In these circumstances you would not be able to apply until your current Environmental Stewardship agreement has expired

I have an English Woodland Grant Scheme agreement can I apply?The situation is similar to that for existing Environmental Stewardship agreements, although some EWGS agreements may have to change due to the new regulations. However you may be able to apply for capital grants and support for woodland creation but as there are a number of scenarios opportunities should be discussed with your Forestry Commission Woodland Officer.

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Who will deliver Countryside Stewardship?Natural England will be the scheme deliverer, together with the Forestry Commission for the woodland elements. The Rural Payments Agency will be the inspection and payments agency.Due to existing commitments under Environmental Stewardship and the English Woodland Grant Scheme, which stretch well into and beyond the next Programme, the budget available to pay for agreements in the new Countryside Stewardship scheme will increase only gradually as existing agreements expire. With new agreements we shall therefore be looking to maximise opportunities to achieve multiple benefits.

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Countryside Stewardship – woodlands and forestry

Overview

The new RDPE is good for woods, good for the environment and good for growth.

Boosted by the £900m Countryside Stewardship (CS) and £140m Countryside Productivity (CP) schemes, the new RDPE is a great deal for England’s woodlands.

Good for woods. CS will protect, improve and expand woodland better than ever before. This includes good rates for tree health, woodland management (including deer and grey squirrel management) and woodland creation.

Good for environment, good for landscapes. Supporting the right environment management in the right places, CS is more targeted. It will continue to restore habitat, manage flood risk better and improve water quality further.

Good for growth. CP supports businesses interested in forestry. This includes getting access to supply chains, unlocking new woodfuel and venison markets, help with machinery and kit, and new partnerships and support new woodland roads for woodland management.

The new RDPE builds on the successes of the 2007-2013 programme, which:

Created more than 15,000 hectares of woodland, an area the size of the Forest of Dean;

Ensured 250,000 hectares of woodland are now actively managed; Helped to support 43,000 jobs; Expanded woodland with public access by 2,500 hectares; Helped improve people’s health and enjoyment of our countryside; Improved woodland for precious wildlife species, including dormice, nightjars

and pearl-bordered fritillary butterflies.

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Countryside Stewardship – woodland capital offerOverviewCountryside Stewardship Woodland capital grants are being made available prior to the full Countryside Stewardship scheme opening in summer 2015.

What is available?Woodland Capital Grants are available for

Creating and maintaining new woodland Woodland management plans Woodland Tree health

All land managers can apply. This includes landowners, leaseholders and tenants. Leaseholders and tenants must check that the landowner agrees with their proposal before they apply.

Local Authorities can apply for the woodland creation grant, woodland management grant, woodland tree health grant but not for the maintenance grant.

Government departments can’t apply for funding. Their tenants can apply for the woodland creation grant but not for the maintenance grant. Tenants must get consent from their landlord and the work proposed must not already be covered by their tenancy agreement.

Further detail on who can apply and eligibility can be found in the handbook and guidance available on www.gov.uk/government/collections/countryside-stewardship-woodland-funding

How can applicants apply?Download an application form from www.gov.uk/government/collections/countryside-stewardship-woodland-funding. Application forms are also available from local Forestry Commission area offices. To find your local Forestry Commission Office visit www.forestry.gov.uk. The helpline number to call is 0300 067 4070.

Applications open on 17 February. Further detail on the dates and closure of each of the schemes can be found on www.gov.uk/government/collections/countryside-stewardship-woodland-funding

Potential applicants are strongly recommended to seek advice about the scheme they wish to apply for from their local Forestry Commission Woodland officer before making an application.

Applicants will not be able to complete an online application for 2015 Woodland Capital grants but they will be available to download a form from www.gov.uk/government/collections/countryside-stewardship-woodland-funding

Q&A19

What grants are available?

Woodland creation grants – planting, protecting and (where applicable) maintaining woodland for 10 years.

Woodland management plans – preparing plans to bring more woodland into management.

Woodland tree health – improving and restoring woodlands.

When can I apply? Woodland creation grants: 17 February – 31 May 2015 Woodland management plans: from 17 February 2015 until 30 June 2015 Woodland tree health: from 17 February 2015 until 30 June 2015.

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Countryside Stewardship – water capital offer

Overview

What is available?

Capital grants of up to £10,000 per holding, for infrastructure works which will help reduce water pollution from agriculture.

Applications can be made from early March until 30 April 2015. These grants will be only be available in Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) target areas.

The scheme is competitive with applications being scored and accepted subject to available budget.

A grant agreement will run for a minimum of 5 years and each grant-aided capital item must remain in the agricultural use for which it was installed for 5 years from the date of final payment.

Following grant approval, applicants can only submit a claim once all the approved works have been completed and have been paid in full.

How can applicants apply?

Potential applicants are strongly recommended to seek advice about the scheme from their local CSF catchment officer before making an application. They will be able to help identify the main opportunities for water quality improvement, provide advice on what capital work could be eligible and help with completion of the application.

Applications for 2015 capital grants for water will not be made online. Application forms will be available to download from GOV.UK at www.gov.uk/catchment-sensitive-farming-reduce-agricultural-water-pollution.

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Q&A

How do applicants apply for a water capital grant?Applications forms and guidance will be available to download from www.gov.uk/catchment-sensitive-farming-reduce-agricultural-water-pollution.

Are the application forms and guidance only available online?A small number of printed application packs are available from:

Countryside Stewardship Water Grant Section Natural EnglandApex CourtCity Link Nottingham NG2 4LA

Tel: 0300 060 1111

Email: catchmentsensitivefarming@naturalengland.org.uk.

Where should the application form be sent?Application forms and the relevant consent documents should be sent by the 30th April 2015 to the address below:

Countryside Stewardship Water Grant SectionNatural EnglandApex CourtCity LinkNottingham NG2 4LA

Who can apply for a water capital grant?Water capital grants are available to economically viable small or medium-sized farm businesses that have land in a Catchment Sensitive Farming target area.

What is a ‘small or medium-sized’ business?Enterprises which employ fewer than 250 employees have an annual turnover not exceeding €50m and/or an annual balance sheet not exceeding €43m.

Where are the Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) target areas?Land managers can use an online tool to find the CSF target areas. The tool will be available at www.gov.uk/catchment-sensitive-farming-reduce-agricultural-water-pollution.

Can an applicant apply for a grant if all or part of their holding is outside a CSF target area?

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To be considered for a grant, all of the proposed work must be within a CSF target area.

Can an existing ES agreement holder apply for a water capital grant?Yes, providing the land and the options chosen are in a CSF target area

When is the application period for the scheme?The scheme is open for applications in early March and closes 30 April 2015. All relevant consents, permissions and exemptions must be sent with the application. Some of the supporting documents can be accepted until 29 May 2015 providing the applicant has permission from Natural England.

How much funding is available?The maximum grant is £10,000 per farm business. Grants are paid on a fixed cost basis; receipted invoices don’t need to be sent with the claims but must be retained for five years.

Who can help with applications?Catchment Sensitive Farming Officers (CSFOs) will be able to offer help and advice to farmers in developing their applications, identify the main opportunities to improve water quality and advise on what capital works are eligible for the grants.

Why do the receipted invoices need to be kept for five years?The grant agreement will run for a minimum of five years, during which time the RPA can inspect the capital works at any point. Any capital works funded through this scheme must be used in the way specified in the grant agreement for at least five years after the date of the final payment.

Will all applicants receive a grant?No, the scheme is competitive and not all good quality applications will receive an offer of funding.

What will happen if the scheme is oversubscribed?If the scheme is oversubscribed there is a list of criteria that will be used to prioritise the applications and consideration will be given to applications that fit these criteria. The selection criteria will be available at www.gov.uk/catchment-sensitive-farming-reduce-agricultural-water-pollution.

Can unsuccessful water capital grant applications be rolled forward into the next application window in July?No. Applications for Countryside Stewardship capital grants in July will be made online. More information about Countryside Stewardship is available at www.gov.uk/cap-reform.

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Countryside Stewardship – facilitation fundOverviewThe facilitation fund is a new fund to support greater cooperation amongst farmers and other land managers to improve the natural environment at a landscape scale.

The new scheme will provide competitive access to facilitation funds to people or businesses who help farmers, foresters and others to work together to deliver Countryside Stewardship priorities on a large scale across landscapes. Facilitation funding will go to people and organisations that can help others to work co-operatively and that have experience of environmental land management.

Anyone with experience of environmental land management and of bringing farmers and other land managers together with expertise in agriculture, forestry, water management and/or ecology can apply. Funding will be made available through a competitive process and will go to facilitators who can show that they can deliver the cooperation across holdings that will make a difference to the way the Countryside Stewardship priorities are delivered.

What is available?Funding will be able to cover the running costs of facilitation; costs associated with training the farmers and other land managers to better deliver the Countryside Stewardship priorities set out in the targeting statements; and the costs of broadening the group and/or securing funds from other sources if the members of the group wish that to happen.

For the applicant to be eligible to apply, they will have to show that the farmers and others in their group will be undertaking new activities as a result of the cooperation and that they support the application. The land area of the group has to be spread across a minimum of four adjoining or largely adjoining holdings and normally cover at least 2,000ha (unless there is an obvious smaller boundary). Applicants must show they have the backing of the land managers on all of the holdings.

How can applicants apply?The window for applications is likely to be open from the middle of March and close on 30 April 2015. The expectation is that successful applicants will have their agreements in place to help any farmers or others in the group who wish to apply for Countryside Stewardship mid-tier agreements.

Applications will be assessed by a panel of representatives from Natural England, the Forestry Commission and the Environment Agency. More details about eligibility and selection criteria will be available shortly.

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Q&A

How long will the agreements be?

Facilitation agreements will run for up to five years.

Are all applicants guaranteed to receive funding?

No, there is a limited budget available, so applications will be assessed through a competitive process with the strongest being successful subject to budget limits.

Do all the farmers in the group have to be making Countryside Stewardship applications in the same year or could they be making their applications in different years?[insert]

Can the grant cover enabling farmers to change existing HLS agreements as well as putting in Countryside Stewardship applications?

[insert]

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Countryside Productivity

OverviewCountryside Productivity forms part of the wider new Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). The RDPE Growth Programme is part of a £456 million RDPE package to help grow the rural economy that also includes the RDPE Growth Programme and LEADER. Under this new scheme, around £141m will be invested into the English countryside from 2015 to 2020. We want to encourage farmers, foresters and other land managers to increase their productivity and competitiveness, by giving them opportunities to share their knowledge and take up innovative technologies.

The Countryside Productivity scheme provides support for: improvements in farming and forestry productivity; the creation of new farming and forestry enterprises; and facilitate technology transfer within the farming and forestry sectors.

What is available?Funding will be available to help farmers and foresters to innovate; to utilise new technology and latest research in their business; to start-up a business or to improve skills and training.

An initial Capital Grant offer will be available from February 2015, with other offers being introduced, on a phased basis during the 2015-2020 period;

Farm Business Start-up Grants will become available from Summer 2015, with an invitation to submit a business plan for formal assessment. The funding will be given to young farmers aged 40 and under to support them in setting up as a holding for the first time;

Initial Expressions of Interest will be invited in February 2015 from partnerships interested in establishing groups to undertake innovative Knowledge Transfer activities through the European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and sustainability (EIP-Agri), with grant applications to be made from July 2015 onwards;

Support for industry-led projects that bring businesses together across England to address priority issues will be available from Summer 2015. These are expected to initially focus on tackling livestock disease, improving nitrogen efficiency and developing wood-fuel supply chains.

Support for training, knowledge exchange and demonstration activity through a new skills offer, will be available from Summer 2015.

How can applicants apply?

More details will be available shortly. Please see more details of the initial Countryside Productivity grant offer below.

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Q&A

How does Countryside Productivity fit within the new RDPE?

Countryside Productivity forms part of the wider new Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). It forms a part of the £456 million RDPE package to help grow the rural economy that also includes the RDPE Growth Programme and LEADER. Under this new scheme, around £141m will be invested into the English countryside from 2015 to 2020. We want to encourage farmers, foresters and other land managers to increase their productivity and competitiveness, by giving them opportunities to share their knowledge and take up innovative technologies.

What are the objectives of Countryside Productivity?

The Countryside Productivity scheme provides support for improvements in farming and forestry productivity; encourage the creation of new farming and forestry enterprises; and facilitate technology transfer within the farming and forestry sectors. This will be achieved through:

the availability of grants for innovative capital equipment; support for the provision of high level technical skills and knowledge transfer; business start-up grants for young farmers; support for Operational Groups to explore the application of innovative

technology and processes under the European Innovation Partnership for agricultural productivity and sustainability;

support for regional and national integrated projects that combine training, advice, knowledge exchange, cooperation and capital grants.

What will be available initially?

We are launching a capital grants scheme worth £5m, open to farmers and foresters that will include a focused range of investments in evidence-based, innovative equipment.

We are also launching a call for ‘Notifications of ideas’ for projects under the European Innovation Partnership for agricultural productivity and sustainability. This will enable us to work with stakeholders to help Operational Groups to form, to explore the practical application of research and development of innovative technology and processes.

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Countryside Productivity – Capital grants offer

Overview

In the first of a series of offers from the Countryside Productivity scheme, we are making £5m support available for investment in innovative technology, equipment, software and infrastructure.

This is part of £141m that will be invested into the English countryside from 2015 to 2020. We want to encourage farmers, foresters and other land managers to increase their productivity and competitiveness, by giving them opportunities to share their knowledge and take up innovative technologies.

What is available?

Capital Grants for equipment or infrastructure in innovative and priority policy areas, such as biosecurity, energy saving, water efficiency, reservoirs, animal health, slurry management, including:

Various equipment for improving animal productivity, health and welfare

LED lights with wavelength control – purchase and installation

Controlled atmosphere storage

Remote crop sensors- tractor mounted or based on unmanned aerial vehicles

Crop robotics that use in field camera sensing ad computer analysis to control field operations

Equipment to improve the productivity of forests including for harvesting and extraction, and woodfuel production

Slurry application systems

Air scrubbers and heat exchangers for pig and poultry units

LED lighting for livestock housing

On farm reservoir and irrigation systems

Poultry litter drying systems.

Grants rates are:

Small capital grants of £2,500 – £35,000 Large capital grants of over £35,000.

How can applicants apply?

Full guidance will be made available on the government website gov.uk/XXXX . [Contact may also be made to the Rural Payments Agency….].Q&A

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Who is eligible to apply for the Capital Grants?

Farmers, growers, woodland owners and forestry contractors

What equipment can I apply for?

Various equipment for improving animal productivity, health and welfare LED lights with wavelength control – purchase and installation Controlled atmosphere storage Remote crop sensors- tractor mounted or based on unmanned aerial vehicles Crop robotics that use in field camera sensing ad computer analysis to control

field operations Equipment to improve the productivity of forests including for harvesting and

extraction, and woodfuel production Slurry application systems Air scrubbers and heat exchangers for pig and poultry units LED lighting for livestock housing On farm reservoir and irrigation systems Poultry litter drying systems

How much is available?

A total budget of £5 million is available for applications through until June 2015. A grant may cover up to 40% of the total eligible costs of the project. Funding is made on actual costs of eligible equipment based on quotes that should be included as part of an application form.

Applications will be for small grants of £2,500 to £35,000 and large grants of £35,000 - £1,000,000.

The scheme will be competitive. Applications that meet basic eligibility criteria will be assessed and prioritised.

When am I likely to get funding?

Small grant applications or outline applications for a large grant must be received electronically by 4pm on 30 June 2015. If the application is for a large grant and the outline application is successful, the RPA will provide a deadline for submitting full large grant application.

A decision on an application will then be made by an RPA panel that meets every 2 months.

Dates that the panel will meet will be made available on the scheme website. Once the meeting has taken place the RPA will confirm whether an application has been approved.

What is in it for the dairy sector?

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Dairy farmers can apply for support for a range of investments in this grant scheme, including lameness detection devices, rumination monitors, calving detectors, handling and weighing systems, slurry application equipment and LED lighting. Later in the year dairy farmers may be able to apply to form an EIP-Agri operational group, to get support for skills and knowledge exchange and to participate in collaborative projects to tackle livestock disease. Young people setting up as dairy farmers for the first time may be able to apply for business start-up support.

What about Young Farmers?

Young farmers are eligible to apply for the range of grants available under this initial offer. Specific business start up support for young farmers setting up in control of a holding for the first time will be available in the autumn. Details of that support is still being finalised.

What about skills?

Support for the provision of training and knowledge exchange to farmers, growers and woodland managers through the RDPE is currently being finalised. The scheme is expected to focus this support for innovative, high specification technical skills and knowledge exchange. Basic skills, including basic business skills will not form part of the CP skills offer, but may be available through the European Growth Programme delivered in Local Enterprise Partnership areas.

When will we hear about the remainder of CP grants?

We will be looking to announce during summer 2015 details of the availability of RDPE funding under Countryside Productivity for: further capital grants; a training and knowledge transfer offer; business start-up grants to young farmers and integrated regional and national projects.

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Countryside Productivity – European Innovation Partnership

Overview

The EIP-Agri is part of the Countryside Productivity Scheme of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE).

EIP-Agri is intended to foster competitive and sustainable agriculture and forestry by bringing together researchers, farmers and forest managers to apply new approaches and to exchange knowledge. Delivery of the EIP-Agri aims will be primarily through Operational Groups (OGs) running projects. OGs would comprise a mix of participants such as farmers, foresters, researchers, advisers, NGOs, food businesses and others relevant to the project. The impetus for the activities of the OG should come primarily from the farmer, forester and/or farm advisers.

An EIP-Agri Service Point, based in Brussels, has already been set up by the European Commission and offers a ready-made route for sharing the results of EIP-Agri projects throughout Europe http://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/

What is available?

At this stage we are making an initial call for ‘Notifications of ideas’ for projects under the European Innovation Partnership for agricultural productivity and sustainability. This will enable us to work with interested parties to help Operational Groups form, that will explore the practical application of research and development of innovative technology and processes.

How can applicants apply?

EIP-Agri will open formally for applications from summer 2015. Before that, people forming OGs or OGs themselves can send in their Notifications of Idea about their EIP-Agri project proposals.

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Q&A

What is EIP-Agri?The European Innovation Partnership for agricultural productivity and sustainability (EIP-Agri) has been set up by the European Commission to build innovation in European agriculture. It is a new measure which Defra will support within the next Rural Development Programme from 2015 as part of the Countryside Productivity scheme. The EIP-Agri is intended to foster competitive and sustainable agriculture by bringing together researchers and farmers/foresters to apply new approaches, translate research into practice and to exchange knowledge.

How does it work in England?Delivery of the EIP-Agri aims is through Operational Groups (OGs), comprising some combination of farmers, foresters, researchers, advisers, NGOs and others. Operational Groups will be set up by the participants with a common interest in a specific, practical innovation project. The impetus for the activities of the group should come primarily from the farmer or forester and/or farm/forestry advisers. The Group will develop a plan for their project that will meet the aims of the EIP and apply to the Rural Payments Agency for funding by presenting this plan in a competitive grant scheme.

Groups may not undertake new stand-alone research using RDP money. Activities are expected to include application or translation of research, pilot approaches and knowledge exchange. They could, however, look to access European and other research grants or private funding to secure funding for research or activities not provided for under the RDP.

The National Rural Network and stakeholder bodies will provide support to help Operational Groups to form.

To gauge the level of interest in forming OGs to examine issues or topics under EIP-Agri, we are inviting Notifications of Interest (NoIs) as part of the initial launch of Countryside Productivity in March. Those NoIs will be used to help groups to form and will influence the detail of the scheme, which will open for applications in the summer.

Can I work with people across UK/Europe?OGs will mainly exist at national or UK level, but could involve participants in more than one Member State. Each group should consist of the partners that are needed to reach the specific objectives of the project: this means that the type and number of people involved can vary from Group to Group.

How much money is available?Grant funding of between £5,000 and £150,000 per project will be available towards the cost of taking an innovative idea from beyond initial research to the market place. Grant funding is available for up to three years.

Funding could cover:

personnel costs; operating or running costs;

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costs arising from promotional activity.

We will provide more detailed guidance in due course

I have an idea for a topic, what information do you need?

An innovative project should seek new ways of solving a recognised industry problem that restricts productivity or sustainability, or test out a new approach. This is likely to involve applying new research, knowledge or technology, or using existing knowledge or equipment in a new way.

To notify an Idea, you should email EIP-Agri-England@defra.gsi.gov.uk with details of:

your name, email address, postal address, telephone number; the name, email address and role of others involved in your project who’ll be

part of your operational group;

an outline of your project including the goals of your plan, the problem you aim to solve, and how you expect it to benefit productivity and sustainable resource management

We will provide more detail on how to apply before the summer

When will I hear if I can take my idea forward?

Once we receive NoIs we will work with stakeholders to help Operational Groups to form before opening application for the grants scheme this summer. You will need to apply in a competitive grants process when the scheme opens in order to access funding.

Do I have to send a Notification of Idea in order to apply for grant funding?

It is not essential to send your Idea in order to apply for funding when applications open. However, you may find it useful to do so: we will use the ideas to inform the detail of the scheme and we can offer support to help your Group to form.

Where can I find out more information?

The EU EIP-Agri Service Point website provides lots of useful informationhttp://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/

We will publish more detailed guidance on how to apply on Gov.UK in due course.

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Growth Programme

Overview

This scheme forms part of the wider new Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). The RDPE Growth Programme is part of a £456 million RDPE package to help grow the rural economy that also includes the Countryside Productivity scheme and LEADER. It also forms part of a £6 billion package of support from the EU Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) for strategies for economic growth produced by Local Enterprise Partnerships.

What is available?

The RDPE Growth Programme is being launched in phases. The first phase covers grants for:

Small and micro-businesses Tourism Agri-food businesses Business-led renewables

There will be further launches from Summer 2015 onwards related to:

Skills and business advice for rural businesses Broadband Community renewables projects

The RDPE Growth Programme funding is an integral part of Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) led European Structural and Investment Fund Growth Programmes, to help grow the economy of rural areas through support for rural businesses; improved access to broadband; and development of renewable energy.

How can applicants apply?

Funding will be available to help rural businesses to start-up or grow their businesses and to improve access to skills and training; to support investment in broadband; to develop new sources of renewable energy; and to support the development of rural tourism.

Calls will be issued as and when required and will be based on discussion between local partners and the RPA Rural Development Directorate (RDD). Calls may be made by a small number of LEPs before the end of March. Further calls will be made during the summer.

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Q&A

When will calls be issued?

Calls will be issued as and when required and will be based on discussion between local partners and the RPA Rural Development Directorate (RDD). Calls may be made by a small number of LEPs before the end of March. Further calls will be made during the summer.

What will the calls include?

Each LEP area will advise the RDD on the focus of their local calls, based on local evidence-based needs as set out in their local ESIF strategies. Calls will therefore vary between LEP areas. The early calls will cover support for rural businesses, agri-food and tourism. Later calls will also include support for renewables and rural broadband projects. In addition to calls, RDD will commission localised provision of business advice and skills in response to the needs identified in individual local areas.

How long will the calls stay open?

This will vary according to the call, but a typical call window will be around 3 months. Duration will depend on the type of project to be supported and the funding available, as well as local circumstances. A call could include multiple windows for beneficiaries to apply.

Will the call specify a minimum and / or maximum grant size?

The minimum size for business development grants will usually be £35,000. Rare exceptions to this can be discussed with RDD. Individual calls may give a maximum grant level, linked to the overall level of funds available through the call and the type of project targeted. Business start-up grants are limited to 40-70,000 Euros. There will be an option for LEP areas to make a particular case if they want to fund below this limit, but it is expected that exceptions will be very few, and likely limited to areas where no LEADER groups are in place.

How many calls will be published for each LEP area per annum?

This will vary. The number of calls will be determined by the RDD working with LEPs and their local partners.

Will multi-measure project calls be available?

Calls covering multiple measures will be possible. For example, calls promoting tourism may offer a mix of grants that can provide support for business development, community groups, small-scale infrastructure or co-operation between different partners to develop a particular destination. Any procured activity (i.e. business advice and training provision, to be available later in the Programme) would need to be made separately to calls for grants.

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Will there be 100% funding for projects?

Contribution rates vary depending on the type of activity funded and the state aid cover under which funding is granted to a particular business. In general projects will receive approximately 40% funding of the total costs. Some projects will be provided with more or less depending on what the project plans to deliver, the location and whether the benefits are private or community based. 100% funding will usually be restricted to grants to community groups; broadband projects; and grants to support certain kinds of collaboration.

Are there any restrictions on who can get a business start-up grant?

Start-up grants will only be available to new businesses, or individuals looking to set up new businesses, that are legally established as enterprises. This means that funding will not be available to those setting up as self-employed. In addition, given the level of grant available (between €40-70,000), successful applicants will usually need to demonstrate through their business plan that they will be able to create at least two new jobs, in order to score well on value for money at appraisal. These conditions do not apply to start-up grants for individuals looking to establish themselves as agricultural contractors.

What counts as a start-up business?

Business start-up grants are available either to individuals looking to set up a business (NB: the business must have been legally established by the point at which the initial grant payment is made); or newly established businesses that are still in their start-up phase. The business would need to commence trading within 9 months of the granting of aid. Applications from businesses that are already legally established must be made within 12 months of incorporation.

Are public bodies eligible for funding under the Growth Programme?

Most grants available through the Growth Programme are targeted at small and micro businesses (which includes social enterprises). However, there are some grants for which other groups are eligible. Funding for small-scale tourist infrastructure is available to rural communities (the application will need to come from a business, community group or public body applying on behalf of that community, as individuals cannot apply). Charities, community groups and public bodies can also apply for co-operation grants, which may be available to support tourism (to develop a destination) or pilot projects. What is available locally will depend on local calls.

Who provides match funding for projects?

Project applicants are expected to demonstrate that they have the appropriate level of match funding when they put in their bids. This should come from private means and not public funding.

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How will I know my business is in a ‘rural’ area and therefore eligible for funding?

You will be able to find this out from the maps and the postcode checker available on gov.uk.

How do I apply?

An application form will be available on gov.uk. You should download it, fill it in and email it back to the email address provided.

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Where are Local Enterprise Partnerships located?

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LEADER

Overview

This scheme forms part of the wider new Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). LEADER is part of a £456 million RDPE package to help grow the rural economy that also includes the Countryside Productivity scheme and RDPE Growth Programme.

Funding will support jobs and growth in rural areas provided mainly through small grants. Funding will include help for farming and forestry businesses as well as other types of business in rural areas.

Funding will be delivered through LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs) in rural areas to meet locally identified priorities. 70% of the available funding to LAGs will be used for measures designed to directly support creation of jobs and growth.

What is available?

Grants, mainly for smaller projects, will cover six key priorities:

increasing farm productivity increasing forestry productivity support for micro/small and start-up businesses and farm diversification support for rural tourism provision of rural services support for cultural/heritage activity

How can applicants apply?

Individual LAGs will identify action to be taken within their areas to address the strategic priorities identified at a national level (see above). These actions will be incorporated into a Delivery Plan, designed to focus the work of the LAG and to provide a guide for potential project sponsors. Links to individual LAG Delivery Plans will be provided via www.gov.uk/... once these become available.

Following formal confirmation of the territories to be covered by Local Action Groups, and the awarding of contractual agreements, LAGs will invite Expressions of Interest for project proposals that will help to deliver the priorities that have been agreed. This will take effect from Summer 2015.

Subject to a proposal receiving the endorsement by the LAG, an invitation will be given to the project sponsor to submit a formal application.

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Q&A

When will LEADER groups be announced?

We will announce the final list of selected groups via GOV.UK shortly. Approved groups will also receive their final budget allocations as part of this process. (This is subject to Ministerial decisions being taken on the appeal cases received from the groups that were rejected when the decisions on the selection process were announced in November 2014).

Once the groups are announced when will LEADER actually commence? Preparations for LEADER in the RDPE 2014-2020 are already underway for groups already approved. We will shortly begin the process of ‘contracting’ with approved groups once final budgets are confirmed. Throughout spring 2015 we will be working with approved groups to help to train key staff, to familiarise them with the operational processes and also the scheme details contained in the LEADER handbook. LEADER will then be fully open for business in summer 2015 after the general election.

What is the coverage of LEADER Groups?

There are [xx] LEADER groups within England covering approximately [xx%] of rural population in England. This is an increase upon the previous Programme of [xx] and {xx] respectively. This includes certain areas that were not previously covered by LEADER. However, there LEADER groups will not cover 100% of rural England.

Where can I find out if I am in a LEADER area?

GOV.UK [insert link when available] has a list showing all the approved LEADER groups, together with their contact details or website if they have one. This information is accompanied by a map showing the breakdown of coverage in England. If in doubt, contact your nearest group or contact the Rural Payments Agency (0300 0200 301) and ask to speak to a member of your local Rural Delivery Team (RDT) who can advise

Later in March we intend to update this page with a “postcode checker” search tool and a link to more detailed mapping information.

If I am not in LEADER area, will there be an opportunity for new groups or those ones that failed to be selected this time around to apply in the future to become LEADER groups. If not, how do I access funding?

The groups that have been approved are the ones that will be in place for the lifetime of the 2014-2020 RPDE Programme. There will be no further calls for applications to become a LEADER group.

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However, it is important to note that there are other sources of funding and support available in your area, in addition to what LEADER can offer. Further details of RDPE grants available in your area will be signposted on GOV.UK and may involve contacting your Local Enterprise Partnership or local RPA Rural Development Team office.

Will the LEADER Exchange Group (LEG) continue under the new Programme?

Yes, the LEG will continue into the next RDP. We are currently considering the future structure and role of the LEG and how attendees will be selected. As part of that process, we will shortly set up an “online dialogue” consultation to seek the views of approved LEADER groups on how best to take this forward. More details will be provided in due course.

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