By Invitation Only
This January the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has re-launched a version of Higher-Tier Environmental Agreements for Farmers and Land Managers.
Initially by invitation only, the RPA’s new scheme is unlike current SFI measures, with applicants needing to complete management plans and environmental assessments before an application can be made. The new process will provide financial contributions towards the application, as well as requiring an RPA land officer to visit each applicant for inspection and deliverability assessment.
Initial invitations are being issued by the RPA to those who have an existing HLS / Higher Tier CSS agreements that expiring in 2025, or who have obtained a woodland management plan from the Forestry Commission in the last 12 months.
The Forestry Commission are ahead of the curve compared to the RPA, already having the right people and processes in place to carry applications forward. The scheme is aiming to have the first agreements in place from March 2026, with these likely to be more woodland-based.
Ultimately, the RPA are aiming to have a year-round agreement window for the new Higher Tier Scheme, and quarterly payments much like SFI, but we will have to wait and see.
If you have received an invitation for HLS or if you want to start planning to get on the priority list, please do get in touch at info@wilsonfearnall.co.uk.
Related posts
Farmers and landowners need to start planning for the future with government support quickly changing its focus. We are now halfway through the agricultural transition period, moving away from
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero are currently undertaking a final round of consultation on critical updates to a number of key National Policy Statements for energy
Over the weekend the Government published the outcome of its Compulsory Purchase – Compensation Reforms consultation, concluding that new primary legislation will be prepared to facilitate the removal or
The good news is that Therese Coffey has announced the detailed rules around the new Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) that will be the main tool for 'supporting farmers to be
Running from Lake Vrynwy in North Wales through to Merseyside the Vrynwy Aqueduct has been delivering drinking water across the North West since 1892. United Utilities have already undertaken
February saw the opening of the window for this years Countryside Stewardship (CS) applications and we are urging farmers and landowners to undertake an early review of their options
