This is a Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 (SFI26) action. Read the SFI26 scheme information to understand what you’re required to do under an SFI26 agreement and how to apply.
\n\nSelect ‘See all updates’ at the start of this page to find out how this action has changed for SFI26 compared with SFI24.
\n\nFor SFI24 actions, read the SFI24 agreement holder’s information.
\n3 years
\n\n£5 per square metre (m2) per year – to calculate the area you must only include the area of the building’s ground floor, not any area from other floors or areas outside the building.
\n\nThis action’s aim is that there are:
\n\ntraditional farm or forestry buildings maintained in good condition
\nwhere relevant, preserved and accessible features used by bats, owls and kestrels
\nThe purpose of this is to:
\n\nenhance the local landscape
\npreserve places for wildlife
\nTo be eligible for this action, the traditional farm or forestry building, or parts of a building, must:
\n\nhave been built using traditional methods, such as timber, brick, stone, tile or slate
\nhave been built before 1940 for agricultural or forestry use, such as housing machinery or animals, or storing crops or processing crops, food or forest products
\nstill be in agricultural or forestry use on your farm or land holding, whether or not this was the original use
\nbe in good condition – this means the fabric of the building is intact, so it’s weatherproof
\nYou must have management control of the eligible farm or forestry building for the 3-year duration of this action.
\n\nYou cannot do this action if the building:
\n\nis a metal-framed Dutch barn
\nwas constructed as a dwelling
\nis a farmhouse, residential or domestic building
\nSites of special scientific interest (SSSIs): Not applicable
\n\nHistoric and archaeological features: Eligible – you must get an SFI HEFER before you do this action (read section 5.3 ’Land with historic or archaeological features’ in the SFI26 scheme information to find out how to do this).
\n\nNot applicable, as you’ll enter the area in m2.
\n\nThis action is static. This means you must do it at the same location each year of this action’s duration.
\n\nTo maintain the traditional farm or forestry building in good condition, you must:
\n\ncomplete a visual building maintenance assessment to check the building’s condition and identify any areas that need routine maintenance work or minor repairs to keep it weatherproof
\ncarry out any necessary routine maintenance work and minor repairs on a ‘like for like’ basis using traditional materials and methods (unless non-traditional material has previously been used)
\nmaintain any existing areas where a non-traditional material has previously been used to repair or re-clad the building, such as corrugated iron sheeting to cover roofs
\nTo make sure there are preserved and accessible features for bats, owls and kestrels, you must:
\n\ncomplete a visual building wildlife assessment to identify any existing use of the building by these species
\nretain any existing features used by these species that you’ve identified in the building wildlife assessment
\ninstall an owl, bat or kestrel box if you’ve identified they’re required in the building wildlife assessment
\nIf you identify bat activity, you must:
\n\nget advice from a licensed ecological consultant before you carry out routine maintenance work or minor repairs on the building
\nfollow any advice from the ecological consultant about when work can be undertaken on the building’s fabric
\ncomply with the relevant legal requirements for advice and licences – read section 10 ‘Get any regulatory consents before you do your SFI actions’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more information
\nYou must produce:
\n\na photographic record of the condition of the building as at this action’s start date
\na written or photographic record of each visual building maintenance assessment you complete, including details of any areas of the building that need routine maintenance work or minor repairs to keep it weatherproof and the date you identify this need
\na written or photographic record of the routine maintenance work or minor repairs completed, including when the work was done
\na written record of the building wildlife assessment
\nYou must not sell the building, or convert it to non-agricultural or forestry use during this action’s 3-year duration
\n\nYou must:
\n\ncomplete the visual building maintenance assessment and building wildlife assessment at least once each year of this action’s 3-year duration
\ncarry out any necessary routine maintenance work or minor repairs within 12 months of identification, or by this action’s end date if the need for maintenance work or minor repairs is identified during the final year of this action’s duration – unless bat activity has been identified and the ecologist’s advice is to carry out works later
\ninstall owl, bat or kestrel boxes, as relevant, within 12 months of this action’s start date, if you’ve identified they’re required in the building wildlife assessment
\nIt’s up to you how you do this action, as long as you:
\n\nfollow this action’s requirements – these are identified by a ‘must’
\ndo the action in a way that could reasonably be expected to achieve this action’s aim
\nYou may find it helpful to read the ‘advice to help you do this action’, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.
\n\nYou must keep:
\n\nthe required records identified in ‘what to do’
\nany receipted invoices (or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable), consents or permissions connected with the work on the traditional farm or forestry building
\na record of advice you’ve received from a licensed ecological consultant and any required wildlife licence, if you’ve identified bat activity in the building wildlife assessment
\nYou must supply this evidence if we ask for it.
\n\nYou can do the following actions or options on the same area in a land parcel as this action.
\n\n| Scheme | \nAction or option codes | \n
|---|---|
| \nSFI 2026 actions | \nNo SFI 2026 revenue actions | \n
| \nSFI 2024 actions | \nNo SFI 2024 revenue actions | \n
| \nSFI 2023 actions | \nNo SFI 2023 revenue actions | \n
| \nCSHT actions from 2025 | \nNo CSHT actions | \n
| \nCS options | \nNo CS revenue options | \n
| \nES options | \nNo ES revenue options | \n
If an action or option cannot be located on the same area, you may be able to do it on a different area in the same land parcel. Read section 5.6 ‘Land that’s already in other funding schemes or grants’ in the SFI26 scheme information for more details.
\n\nThe following advice may help you to do this action, but it’s not part of this action’s requirements.
\n\nCompleting this action’s visual building maintenance assessment as often as possible each year will help you to keep the building weatherproof.
\n\nAreas that may need routine maintenance work or minor repairs may include, for example:
\n\nYou can use the Countryside Stewardship: building maintenance plan and log form to help you complete the assessment, but it’s not part of this SFI action’s requirements.
\n\nRoutine maintenance work and minor repairs may include activities such as:
\n\nYou may find it helpful to read Historic England’s ‘The Maintenance and Repair of Traditional Farm Buildings – a guide to Good Practice’.
\n\nYou can use the Countryside Stewardship: building wildlife assessment form to help you complete the visual building wildlife assessment, but it’s not part of this SFI action’s requirements.
\n\n","change_history":[{"note":"Added 'Advice to help you do this action' section.","public_timestamp":"2026-06-17T11:30:19Z"},{"note":"No substantive changes have been made to this action for SFI26 (compared with the SFI24 version).","public_timestamp":"2026-06-02T13:12:49Z"},{"note":"Action’s aim - deleted ‘using traditional methods and materials’. Added ‘where relevant’ to features used by bats, owls and kestrels. \r\nWhat to do - you must use traditional materials, unless non-traditional material has previously been used. Updated wording on what you must do if you identify bat activity. \r\nWhen to do it - added wording on timing of carrying out maintenance work or minor repairs if bat activity has been identified. \r\nPublished voluntary advice to help you do this action, but it's not part of this action’s requirements. 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