Guidance

Applicant's guide: Protection and Infrastructure grants 2023

Updated 7 December 2023

Applies to England

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1. Important dates and scheme changes

Countryside Stewardship (CS) Protection and Infrastructure grants scheme is open for applications all year from 5 January 2023.

You can also apply for other CS capital grants at any time of the year.

1.1 Scheme changes for 2023

  1. Agreement duration has increased for new agreements. For applications received from 5 January 2023, Agreement Holders will have 3 years to complete capital works.
  2. Land in a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or Scheduled Monument is now eligible for capital items if the land is already covered by an existing Countryside Stewardship (CS) or Environmental Stewardship (ES) agreement.
  3. We are applying more proportionate reductions where claims are received late. Instead of a 100% reduction for being one day late, the reduction will be scaled according to how late the claim is.

2. About Protection and Infrastructure

This grant is a standalone capital grant available under CS.

You can submit an application for each Single Business Identifier (SBI) that you manage.

If your application is successful, we will make you an agreement offer. If you accept the offer, you will enter into an agreement with the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).

For guidance and information on other woodland capital grants available as part of CS (Woodland Management Plans and Woodland Tree Health) read Countryside Stewardship grants for 2023.

2.1 What grants are available

You can apply for a CS Protection and Infrastructure grant for:

  • FY2 Woodland Infrastructure capital items
  • Beaver Protection capital items, which are BC3 (crop protection mesh wire fencing for permanent crops) and BC4 (tree guard post and wire)
  • Beaver dam management capital item BC5 (expert dam management)

2.1.1 FY2 Woodland Infrastructure capital item

This capital item supports improving the management of the woodland through making woodland accessible by road, allowing timber and other forest products to be moved more easily or to support the establishment of new woodland.

Under this item we will pay 40% of actual costs (including VAT and agent’s fees, where applicable). If you are using your own labour to complete this item, we will pay 80% of the 40% value.

There is guidance with more information about FY2: Woodland Infrastructure on GOV.UK.

You must identify the need for the proposed access to support the establishment of the new woodland in your Woodland Creation or Woodland Management plan. You can consult a Forestry Commission Woodland Officer for technical advice if you are unsure.

The infrastructure under FY2 (Woodland Infrastructure) does not require scoring as a standalone item when applied for as part of a CS Protection and Infrastructure grant.

You can use FY2 (Woodland Infrastructure) on land outside of planting area, for example, for access reasons. However, you must have full management control of the land and the land must be registered to your SBI. You must agree the need for such access with your Forestry Commission Woodland Officer.

If the infrastructure crosses land that is not being planted as part of the new CS woodland creation, then this land needs to be free of any obligation in relation to ES grants.

You can only apply for FY2 (Woodland Infrastructure) in conjunction with a Woodland Creation agreement if the agreement started before 1 January 2022. You cannot use item FY2 as part of woodland creation under the England Woodland Creation Offer.

2.1.2 Beaver Protection capital items

You can apply for CS Protection and Infrastructure Beaver Protection capital items if your land is located in one of the following catchment areas and there is evidence of beaver activity:

If you have land outside the above catchment areas with known established beaver populations, you can apply for BC3, BC4 and BC5 as long as you meet the requirements and send photographic evidence. We will send your application and photographic evidence to Natural England so they can carry out a site visit to confirm beaver activity.

More detailed information about (and the specific requirements for) these items are available on the Countryside Stewardship online grant finder.

2.1.3 BC3 Crop Protection – mesh wire fencing for permanent crops

Farmers and land managers can apply for BC3 Crop Protection mesh wire fencing if the permanent crop is growing on land in one of the eligible catchment areas. Please see the list of eligible catchment areas in Section 2.1.2. The payment rate for BC3 is £3.20 per metre.

The Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) definition of permanent crops information provides a list of permanent crops that are eligible for BC3, including Cricket Bat Willow. The permanent crop must be within 100 metres of a water body or watercourse where beavers are foraging, or there is a strong likelihood of foraging.

You may have fencing that has previously been funded under CS and is still within the ex-post requirements. Ex-post requirements mean that the fencing and posts should remain in place and be kept in the condition and specification for 5 years after the start of the funding agreement. You will need to install the BC3 Crop protection mesh and wire fencing alongside it, or it can be attached to the existing fencing. You can use the existing fencing posts and strengthen them or improve them with new posts where required.

The fence must not:

  • be attached to trees or hedgerows
  • block or restrict access to open access land
  • be located on historic or archaeological features
  • be located close to a watercourse
  • include electric fencing

2.1.4 BC4 Tree Guard post and wire

Farmers and land managers can apply for BC4 Tree guard post and wire to protect specific trees that have a commercial, amenity or an ornamental value. An ornamental tree is a tree that is grown only for aesthetic value, for its beautiful appearance and not for harvest of fruit or wood for commercial gain. The trees must be growing on land in one of the eligible catchment areas listed in Section 2.1.2. The payment rate for BC4 is £84 per tree guard.

You can contact Natural England for further advice about tree eligibility.

The tree(s) must be within 100 metres of a water body or watercourse where beavers are foraging or there is a strong likelihood of foraging.

This option must not be used to protect all trees along a watercourse or within a beaver territory, as beavers need access to woody material to feed on during the winter months and to build structures such as dams and lodges.

There’s guidance on how to use wire mesh to protect trees.

If you have tree guards in place that we have already funded, within ex-post requirements, you can install the new BC4 tree guards and wire mesh items alongside it.

The tree guard must not:

  • be attached directly to the tree
  • be attached so that they rub against, constrict or damage the tree in any other way
  • block or restrict access to open access land
  • be located on historic or archaeological features

The use of electric fencing is not acceptable.

2.1.5 BC5 Expert dam management

Farmers and land managers can apply for BC5 Expert dam management for advice from a licenced beaver manager, to help manage beaver dams. To be eligible for expert advice, the dam must be managed to conserve, preserve or protect the local environment, infrastructure or public safety.

Beaver dam management will vary according to the location, beaver behaviour and size of the dam. Not all activity to manage a dam requires a licence, and you should check if a licence is needed before you apply for BC5 Expert dam management.

You can contact your local beaver management group to find a licenced beaver manager and can email:

If your local beaver management group is unable to help, you can contact Natural England.

You must check that the beaver manager has a CL50 licence and certificate, and also check their Natural England CL50 registration email.

Or you can contact Natural England, to check the beaver manager has a CL50 licence by emailing wildlife.scicons@naturalengland.org.uk

2.2 How applications are assessed

2.2.1 FY2 Woodland Infrastructure capital items

The scheme is competitive for FY2 Woodland Infrastructure capital items, and your application could be subject to assessment of its environmental value. If the scheme is oversubscribed, we will prioritise applications based on their environmental benefits.

If you are eligible for the grant and there is sufficient budget, the RPA will approve your application

RPA carry out checks to make sure your application is complete and eligible.

A Forestry Commission Woodland Officer will visit your site, carry out consultation or assessment if required and agree any changes to your application with you.

2.2.2 BC3 and BC4 Beaver protection and BC5 Beaver management capital items

The scheme is not competitive, and RPA carry out checks to make sure your application is complete and eligible.

2.3 What the grant cannot pay for

The grant cannot be used to pay for the cost of any of the following:

  • any capital works started (or materials ordered) before the agreement start date
  • planning application fees or other transactional fees
  • agent fees or other advisory fees
  • meeting legal requirements, including planning conditions and tenancy agreements
  • woodland creation for short rotation coppice or short rotation forestry
  • protection for trees and permanent crops that are more than 100 metres from a water body or watercourse
  • for fencing to protect temporary crops
  • any works undertaken as part of another grant or obligation (read section 3.4)
  • any works that can be carried out where a CL50 licence is required

3. Who can apply and what land is eligible

The CS Protection and Infrastructure grant is open to land managers who are one of the following:

  • an owner occupier
  • a tenant
  • a landlord
  • a licensor, as long as they have control of all the land and all the activities needed to meet the obligations of the grant for the full duration of the agreement

3.1 Land that is eligible

To be eligible for Protection and Infrastructure, land parcels must be entirely within England.

You must have management control of the relevant parcels for 5 years from the agreement start date or have your application countersigned by the landlord (read section 3.3).The following are also eligible:

  • land parcels included in a Forestry Commission approved Woodland Management Plan or Woodland Creation Plan
  • land in an SSSI or Scheduled Monument, including the boundaries of these sites
  • land parcels already included in another CS agreement or ES Higher Level Stewardship agreement can be eligible, as long as the same action is not being funded twice, there is sufficient space in the parcel and the options and items are compatible with each other

For beaver protection items BC3, BC4 and beaver management BC5, land in any other scheme is eligible.

3.2 Land that is not eligible

The following land is not eligible for the Protection and Infrastructure grant:

  • developed land and hard standing (including permanent caravan sites and areas used for permanent storage)
  • for FY2 Woodland Infrastructure only – land that is already included in another scheme or obligation (read section 3.4)

3.3 Management control: who can apply

You must have management control of all the land and all activities needed to meet the requirements of the management options or capital items you select for 5 years from the CS agreement start date, including the durability requirement (read section 6.1).

If you do not you must get the written consent of all other parties who have management control of the land and activities for 5 years from the start of the agreement.

3.3.1 Tenants

If you occupy land under a tenancy, including the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986, the Agricultural Tenancies Act 1995 (a Farm Business Tenancy) or equivalent, and you are applying for an agreement in your own name, you must have:

  • security of tenure for at least 3 years from the start of the CS Protection and Infrastructure grants agreement
  • management control of the land for 5 years from the start of the CS Protection and Infrastructure grants agreement – if you do not have this you must get the countersignature of your landlord as part of your application
  • control of all the activities over the land to meet the scheme requirements for the chosen capital items
  • the agreement of your landlord before you apply

It is your responsibility to check that by joining CS you do not breach the terms of your tenancy agreement.

If the landlord takes over a CS agreement from you once your tenancy has ended, they must be eligible to do so. For example, they must not be an ineligible public body.

3.3.2 Landlords

If you are a landlord and can show that you have enough management control over the land and activities, you can apply for an agreement on land that has been let to a tenant.

As the Agreement Holder, you must give your tenant a copy of the CS agreement. You may need to provide evidence, if requested, that you have given your tenant a copy of the agreement. It is your responsibility to make sure that your tenant does not breach the terms of the agreement.

3.3.3 Partnerships

If you are in a business partnership, you can apply for CS. The person signing the application must have the appropriate permission levels in the Rural Payments service.

3.3.4 Licensors

If you are a licensor, you can apply for a CS agreement on the land entered into a licence arrangement. It is your responsibility to make sure that the licensee does not breach the terms of the CS agreement.

3.3.5 Licensees

Licensees are usually not eligible for CS as a licence arrangement will not provide sufficient management control of the land to the licensee for the agreement period.

If in practice your licence agreement gives you wider land management responsibilities, this may mean you are a tenant and therefore may be eligible for CS. You must show that you have sufficient management control of the land and activities to be able to apply. See section 3.3.1 for more information about CS for tenants.

3.3.6 Land owned by public bodies

Land owned or run by a public body is in general not eligible for CS.

Land is not eligible if it is owned or run by:

  • Crown bodies (including all government departments, executive agencies and trading funds)
  • non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs)

See a list of all government departments, agencies and public bodies on GOV.UK.

Land owned by some public bodies is eligible for CS provided the work does not form part of their obligations as a public body.

This includes land owned by:

  • local authorities
  • national park authorities
  • public corporations

Parish councils and former college farms are not considered to be public bodies and so are eligible to apply for CS.

3.3.7 Tenants of land owned by public bodies

If you are a tenant of a public body, you will need to check with your landlord if the land is eligible for CS.

If the land is eligible, you will be eligible for CS, but the public body must countersign your application if you do not have security of tenure. You will not be eligible for funding any work which is already a requirement of your tenancy agreement or any other legally binding obligation.

If the land is not eligible, you will still be eligible for CS if you have security of tenure for the full term of the agreement, including the durability requirement, as the public body cannot countersign the application. You will not be eligible for funding any work which is already a requirement of your tenancy agreement or any other legally binding obligation.

3.4 Land receiving other funding

You cannot use CS to pay for any environmental management for which you are already receiving:

  • payment from Exchequer funds
  • grant aid from any other public body

You cannot use a CS Protection and Infrastructure agreement to fund capital works that you:

  • are required to carry out under other legally binding obligations
  • are currently receiving funding from other sources for
  • have already received funding for

You may be able to apply for a CS Protection and Infrastructure agreement in addition to an existing CS or ES agreement, as long as you follow the rules set out in section 3.4.2 (Environmental Stewardship) or 3.4.3 (Countryside Stewardship).

We will carry out checks to make sure that capital works are not funded twice from public money.

You must make sure that any work proposed for this grant does not breach the conditions of any other agreement.

3.4.1 Applying for CS where someone else is claiming BPS on the same land (‘dual use’)

In certain circumstances, it is possible for a land parcel to be used by one SBI to claim BPS and that same land parcel to also be included in a CS application submitted by someone else under their SBI. This is known as ‘dual use’.

If you are in a dual use situation you must be able to demonstrate that you are meeting the rules and eligibility requirements of the scheme you are claiming for.

If you are the CS applicant, you have to meet the CS eligibility rules, including having ‘management control’ of the land included in your CS application.

The BPS applicant must show that they have the same land ‘at their disposal’ under the BPS rules (and meet BPS eligibility rules).

If you have an agreement with another person who uses the land to apply for BPS, this does not mean that person has the land at their disposal. It is the rights and responsibilities held in relation to the land, and how they operate in practice, which determine this.

An example of ‘dual use’ is where a landlord has management control of the land for CS while the tenant has the same land at their disposal to claim BPS.

If you are the CS applicant, make sure you have a written record before the BPS application deadline of 15 May 2023 that is signed and dated by both parties. This written record could be a tenancy agreement, a letter, or both, which shows:

  • the rights and responsibilities you and the BPS applicant in the ‘dual use’ situation each have for the land
  • you have management control of the land, and the BPS applicant has the land ‘at their disposal’
  • you have given a copy of the CS agreement document and the terms and conditions (once you receive them) to the other party and that they must meet the terms and conditions (unless you can show that you are carrying out the required activities)

You must also make sure that the ‘dual use’ land parcels are linked to both SBIs in the digital maps in the Rural Payments service. The BPS applicant may need to transfer the land parcels to you using an electronic or paper RLE1 form. Read about how to do this in the RLE1 guidance on GOV.UK.

You may want to get independent professional advice, especially if you previously had a verbal agreement (rather than a written agreement) with the other party.

3.4.2 Environmental Stewardship

Land parcels in Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) may be eligible for a CS Protection and Infrastructure agreement, depending on the capital items you choose.

If you have an existing HLS agreement, you cannot apply for CS Protection and Infrastructure capital item FY2 (woodland infrastructure) on the same land parcels that are in your existing agreement.

If you have an existing HLS agreement, you can apply for a CS Protection and Infrastructure agreement for capital items BC3, BC4 (beaver protection) and BC5 (beaver management).

3.4.3 Countryside Stewardship

If you have an existing CS Mid Tier or Higher Tier agreement, you can enter land parcels in your existing agreement into a CS Protection and Infrastructure grant as long as:

  • any capital works in your CS MT or HT agreements have been fully completed and paid for, and
  • the new capital works do not conflict with the existing MT or HT agreement

You may also apply for a CS Protection and Infrastructure grant on land parcels which are not in your existing CS MT or HT agreement.

3.4.4 Environmental Land Management schemes

Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) pilot

You can apply for this CS Capital Grants offer on land parcels included in an SFI pilot standards agreement.

If you want to enter into a CS Capital Grants agreement in addition to your SFI Pilot standards agreement, you can have these on the same parcel, or on separate parcels, as long as the actions are compatible with each other.

You can apply for capital items BC3, BC4 for beaver protection and BC5 for beaver  management on land parcels included in your SFI pilot agreement.

Sustainable Farming Incentive

The SFI standards do not currently include one-off payments for capital items. You can apply for existing one-off payments for capital items, such as those in Countryside Stewardship on land you enter into an SFI standards agreement. If you want to enter into a CS Protection and Infrastructure agreement in addition to your SFI standards agreement, you can have these on the same parcel or on separate parcels, as long as the actions are compatible with each other.

Local Nature Recovery

We will develop an enhanced version of Countryside Stewardship for future years, so we achieve the same ambitious outcomes that we intended to deliver through Local Nature Recovery, rather than building a whole new scheme. We will publish more information about the scheme, including how CS agreement holders can take part, later this year.

Landscape Recovery

Customers with a CS Protection and Infrastructure grants offer can also apply for a Landscape Recovery agreement. Defra will work with Landscape Recovery applicants during the project development phase on how to transition CS agreement holders fully into Landscape Recovery and avoid double funding.

3.4.5 English Woodland Scheme

You can apply for CS items on land parcels covered by an English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) Management Planning Grant and certain capital grants (for example, Woodland Improvement Grant (WIG) as long as this does not result in you being paid twice for the same items or activities and the CS items do not conflict with any ongoing EWGS requirements.

You cannot apply for CS items on land parcels covered by a multi-annual EWGS agreement, Farm Woodland Payment (FWP), Farm Woodland Premium Scheme (FWPS) or Farm Woodland Scheme (FWS).

3.4.6 Farming Recovery Fund

Land parcels covered by the Farming Recovery Fund are not eligible.

3.4.7 Inheritance Tax or Capital Gains Tax exemption

CS options and capital items may be available on land designated by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) as conditionally exempt from Inheritance Tax or as the object of a Maintenance Fund, depending on the specific undertakings and proposed options or capital items. Read Inheritance Tax and Capital Gains Tax exemption: Countryside Stewardship to find out whether capital items available under the CS Protection and Infrastructure grants are always eligible, never eligible, or need checking.

3.4.8 Other schemes

CS cannot fund works that form part the following schemes or grants:

  • Countryside Productivity
  • Growth Programme
  • LEADER
  • Water Environment Grant
  • Farming in Protected Landscapes
  • Woodland Carbon Fund
  • HS2 Woodland Fund
  • Farming Investment Fund
  • England Woodland Creation Offer

3.4.9 Common land and shared grazing

Common land is eligible for the FY2 (Woodland Infrastructure) grants. BC4 (Tree guard post and wire) grants are available on commons where trees are within 100 metres of a water body or watercourse. Commoners need to agree and name one person to sign the application. This person will then be responsible for maintaining the relevant agreement, if accepted, on behalf of all the commoners.

If your application is on common land you must read the Common land and shared grazing: supplement to the Countryside Stewardship manual, which sets out the requirements, and complete the additional Common land and shared grazing form: Countryside Stewardship.

If you are thinking about applying for an agreement, the work may need consent from the Planning Inspectorate. Consent is required where the work would prevent or impede access or for works to the surface the land, for example:

  • putting up new fences to protect new trees, woodland planting or to encourage natural regeneration
  • building new solid surfaced roads, paths, or car parks to enable access to manage the new or existing woodland

Consent is not required in certain situations – including erecting fencing for up to 5 years, depending on the purpose of the fencing, such as habitat restoration on moorland. However, where an exception applies you must still complete a notice of exemption and send it to the Planning Inspectorate.

If consent is needed it applies equally to new works or where the work is an extension to work with an existing consent.

To be given consent, the work you propose will need to comply with the Common land consents policy.

Read Carrying out works on common land to find out more information on the type of work that requires consent, where exemptions might apply and the application process.

4. How to apply for Protection and Infrastructure grants

Find out how to apply for CS Protection and Infrastructure grants and the evidence and consents you’ll need.

4.1 Check you’re registered

Before you apply for a grant you must register your land on the Rural Payments service if you have not already done so and prepare your application. Application documents are available on GOV.UK .

You can apply for a CS Protection and Infrastructure grant at any time. The grant is open throughout the year.

You can authorise an agent to fill in and submit your application for you. For an agent to act for you, you must give them the appropriate permission levels in the Rural Payments service.

For land parcels to be included they must be registered on the Rural Payments service. If you need new land parcel numbers, fill in an RLE1 form and send to us with sketch maps.

4.2 Ways to apply

Submit your application to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) by email or post using the CS Protection and Infrastructure grant application form. Use the how to complete your Protection and Infrastructure grant application by email or post guidance to help you.

4.3 Prepare a map to accompany your application

You must complete your map to a required standard. See how to complete your Protection and Infrastructure Grant application by email or post for more information. Your FY2 Woodland Infrastructure application map must also clearly show the proposed location of the infrastructure (road).

4.4 Business viability test

We will check all applications against an insolvency register. If we assess your application as not financially viable, we may not offer you an agreement.

For applications including capital expenditure of more than £50,000 in total, you must submit a statement from a registered accountant (for example, a chartered accountant or certified accountant). This is to confirm that the business or SBI has the resources from trading profits, reserves or loans to undertake the work in the proposed agreement schedule.

Where confirmation from an accountant is needed, the accountant will need to provide a letter on headed paper which confirms:

  • they are a registered chartered accountant
  • they act as the accountant for the applicant or have been contracted to act on behalf of the applicant
  • you as the applicant have sufficient finances to complete the capital works in your application and how these funds will be sourced (for example, savings or loan)
  • their understanding of the total value of the capital works in the application – applications involving capital expenditure over certain limits will require additional evidence and undergo additional checks (read 4.7.1 for more information)

You do not need to send any consents with your application, but you must obtain consent before you carry out any work where a consent is needed.

If any consents are needed, you are responsible for arranging all relevant consents, permissions, exemptions, and any written advice needed for your application. We may ask to see this evidence.

Where the proposed road crosses a watercourse or uses culverts during construction, use or maintenance you’ll need to obtain consent for work from the local planning authority (or internal drainage boards within an internal drainage district).

If the road requires access to the public highway, then you may need to notify the relevant highways authority too. You must send a copy of the local planning authority’s advice and any permits with your application.

You will need to check with the local planning authority and relevant highways authority (if relevant) if permitted development rights apply to any Woodland Infrastructure.

If full planning consent is needed your local planning authority will be responsible for a decision on whether consent is needed under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Regulations Environmental Impact Assessments for woodland: overview. If permitted development rights apply, you will need to advise your local FC Woodland Officer that you have contacted your local planning authorities at the time of your application and will need to provide evidence of their decision. The FC Woodland Officer will be responsible for the decision under EIA regulations.

4.5.2 Restrictions on agricultural activity in woodland areas

You cannot use any land subject to a Woodland Creation agreement or FY2 (Woodland Infrastructure) grant for any agricultural activity unless you have been granted permission by your Forestry Commission Woodland Officer. This must last for a period of at least 5 years following the final capital payment.

Once the Woodland Creation agreement starts the land is considered non-agricultural (regardless of when the trees are planted) because this is the point at which land is set aside for non-agricultural us. At this point you must submit an RLE1 form to notify the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) and register the land as permanent non-agricultural area with an effective date from the start date of the CS Protection and Infrastructure grant.

Providing you meet all eligibility requirements you can continue to claim BPS on land in the Woodland Creation agreement. If applicable, you will be required to take action to continue to correctly claim BPS after tree planting. You can find more information on claiming BPS with Woodland Creation and Maintenance in section 6. Read general advice on how woodland grant agreements affect BPS eligibility in Guidance on woodland grant schemes and BPS: operations note 42.

Some activities near rivers which are a flood risk, such as installing fencing perpendicular, or in some instances across a watercourse, may need a permit or consent from the relevant Risk Management Authority (RMA). Permits or consent must be in place before your application is submitted.

You will need to contact:

Please read the Flood risk activities: environmental permits guidance, to check if you need to apply for an environmental permit, formally known as a flood defence consent, and get the form you need.

Consents and permissions must be submitted with your application form.

For full details of BC3 Crop protection mesh wire fencing for permanent crops, go to Countryside Stewardship online grant finder.

You will need to contact:

  • the relevant Risk Management Authority (RMA), (Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Board or the Lead Local Flood Authority) for consents or permissions connected with any beaver capital items
  • Natural England for consents or permissions connected with the work if on a SSSI site

Consents and permissions must be submitted with your application form.

You will need to contact:

  • the relevant Risk Management Authority (RMA), (Environment Agency, Internal Drainage Board or the Lead Local Flood Authority) for consents or permissions connected with any beaver capital items
  • Natural England for consents or permissions connected with the work if on a SSSI site

Consents and permissions must be submitted with your application form.

Your local planning authority can give you informal advice on whether a proposal needs planning consent. There is also general guidance on planning permission for farms available.

You will need to provide evidence of which infrastructure is being created under permitted development or planning permission with your application. However, if planning permission is required, you will need to have permission in place before your agreement is offered. There is also general guidance on planning available at Planning practice guidance.

Where planning permission is required you will need to have this consent before you do the work and provide evidence of this when you submit your claim for FY2 (Woodland Infrastructure).

4.5.7 SSSIs (including National Nature Reserves)

One-to-one technical advice for CS Protection and Infrastructure agreements is not available from Natural England, except for any land in a SSSI which is contained in the application. Work on land in a SSSI will need consent and you should contact Natural England as early as possible when you are getting your application ready. For further information on SSSI consents go to Give notice and get consent for a planned activity on a SSSI on GOV.UK.

4.5.8 Scheduled Monuments

Your local Historic England officer can provide advice on any management or changes needed to maintain or bring the monument into favourable condition. You may also need Scheduled Monument Consent from the Government (advised by Historic England) for some of the chosen work (such as fencing and gateways).

In these situations, you must speak to Historic England to see whether consent is needed, or how to go about works to avoid or reduce negative impacts on the Scheduled Monument.

If your proposals are about any of the following, Historic England can advise whether they are likely to be acceptable:

  • registered parks and gardens
  • registered battlefields

4.5.9 Other consents

You may need to apply for other consents even if you do not need planning consent. If you do, you must keep this evidence as we may ask to see it. Examples of areas where consent is likely to be needed includes where the work affects:

  • protected species (as defined by the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981)
  • registered parkland
  • registered battlefields
  • watercourse or highway areas subject to a Tree Preservation Order – a licence may be needed for any changes to trees and hedges

For consents which affect protected species you may need to plan around seasonal activity. If this is the case, it’s important you arrange the consents well in advance.

If the work affects priority habitats (which may not be SSSIs), you may need to consider the impact on these even if you do not need consent.

4.5.10 Other considerations

When you carry out work under the agreement, remember that you must not breach any other rules or laws, such as:

  • breaking byelaws
  • obstructing public rights of way
  • blocking or restricting access to ‘open access’ land
  • affecting oil or gas pipelines

4.6 Submit your application and supporting documents

Submit your application by email or post. A complete application is made up of:

Use the how to complete your Protection and Infrastructure grant application by email or post guidance to help you submit your application.

If required, you will need to have permission or consent in place before you carry out any work. You will need to submit this evidence when you make a claim for this work.

To apply for FY2 (Woodland Infrastructure) you will also need to provide 3 written quotes for the work, and you must send them with your application.

To apply for BC5 (Expert dam management) you will also need to provide a minimum of 2 written quotes for the work, and you must send them with your application.

4.6.1 FY2 Woodland Infrastructure specification

You will need to prepare a detailed specification which is tailored to the site and send this with your application. The specification needs to set out the work that will be carried out on site showing due consideration to the soil conditions.

The specification needs to meet the Forestry Commission’s Construction, Design and Management (CDM) regulations for forest roads and tracks. For more information, please read Roads and tracks: operations note 25.

You need to provide a clear rationale as to the roading specification selected and the Forestry Commission will assess this.

4.7 After you apply

For both FY2 Woodland infrastructure and BC3, BC4 Beaver protection and BC5 Beaver management items, once we receive your application, we will check it to confirm that:

  • it meets the eligibility requirements in section 3
  • you have filled in all the necessary details on the application form
  • you have completed the map

Quotes for BC5 Expert dam management will be assessed by Natural England.

FY2 Woodland Infrastructure only, after you have submitted your application:

  • RPA will check and notify Forestry Commission that your application is valid and eligible
  • a Forestry Commission Woodland Officer will visit your site to review the application with you – they will check that the woodland design is appropriate and meets the UK Forestry Standard and check that the items you applied for are suitable
  • the Forestry Commission will publicise the proposals on public registers and consult on forestry projects if an environmental impact assessment is being conducted during your application – this is to ensure that the local community knows about and can comment on the proposals

Timescales vary because each application is different, but we will process your application as quickly as possible. An application which involves the amendment of an existing ES agreement, which requires consent or agreement from other parties because of potential impacts on designated sites and which includes the item FY2 Woodland Infrastructure can take longer.

During peak periods of work – such as when Forestry Commission Woodland Officers are negotiating Higher Tier applications from May to September – it may take longer for us to process your application.

The more preparatory work you can do to provide a detailed woodland infrastructure plan based on prior engagement with key stakeholders the better, as it will help us to process your application. Contact your Forestry Commission Woodland Officer as early as possible to receive advice and guidance to develop your application and understand how long it will take for us to process it.

We may reject your FY2 Woodland infrastructure application at any stage if:

  • you have no evidence that poor vehicle access to the woodland is preventing the movement of timber and other forest products
  • the application does not meet the UK Forestry Standard and associated guidelines and is likely to cause harm to the environment
  • you do not provide all necessary supporting evidence within the required timescale or we find an issue at a later date, for example, we find a potential environmental issue after the agreement has been signed

If you are successful, we will write to you to make you an agreement offer.

You can find more information about entering into an agreement at section 6.1.

If your application is unsuccessful, we will let you know why we rejected it. You will then have the right to appeal as set out in section 6.10.

Annex 1: Terms and Conditions

See the CS Terms and Conditions 2023.

Annex 2: Contact details

Contact Rural Payments Agency (RPA)

You can contact RPA by email, phone or post.

Rural Payments Agency (CS)
PO Box 324
Worksop
S95 1DF

Email: ruralpayments@defra.gov.uk

Telephone: 03000 200 301
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm, except bank holidays
Find out about call charges

For Higher Tier only: To request pre-populated applications forms:

Please quote your single business identifier (SBI) and agreement number in all enquiries.

Contact Natural England

You can contact Natural England by email, phone or post.

Natural England
County Hall
Spetchley Road
Worcester
WR5 2NP

Email: enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk

Telephone: 0300 060 3900
March to September: Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm, except bank holidays
October to February: Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm, except bank holidays
Find out about call charges

Contact other organisations

You may also need to:

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