Digital maps in the Rural Payments service: check and change mapping updates
How to check your digital land maps and update or correct any changes made by the Rural Payments Agency.
Applies to England
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) needs to make sure all land data on the Rural Payments service is up to date. We do this by checking the digital maps and updating them if necessary.
What data we use to check for map updates
We check and update digital land maps using information from the latest available data sources. These include:
- site visits
- land imagery, such as aerial photography
- Ordnance Survey (OS) map updates
- change requests from customers’ rural land changes (RLE1) forms
Map updates are carried out annually, so we only need to use data that is less than one year old. The updates are made between December and February before most customers apply for funded schemes.
If you request a change to your digital maps after we’ve completed the annual map updates, we will check the latest information we hold to decide if your digital map needs to be updated further.
What we map
We use digital maps to record physical land parcel boundaries and features which will be included in applications and claims for some rural payment schemes. Find the list of these schemes and information on non-agricultural areas and features in the RLE1 guidance.
Land parcels
A land parcel is an area of land that is 0.0100 hectares (ha) or larger with physical boundaries.
Examples of physical boundaries are:
- hedges, walls, rivers, drains, ditches, roads
- obvious changes such as woodland next to grass
- watercourses if wider than 4 metres (m) can sometimes be used as a boundary
- boundary stones and marker posts
Examples not accepted as boundaries include:
- natural paths
- temporary boundaries, such as temporary electric fences, plough lines, buffer areas between crops
Split land parcels
A land parcel is split on the digital map and recorded as 2 separate parcels if a parcel lies across a less favoured area (LFA) boundary. The LFA boundaries are usually based on actual physical boundaries that are shown on OS maps.
Merged land parcels
If a permanent boundary is removed, the land parcels are merged and recorded as one land parcel. We do not merge land parcels when the parcels are registered to different customers. In these cases, the existing parcel boundaries will not be changed.
Land cover
We record land cover but not land use. We classify land by identifying the physical nature of the land, referred to as land covers.
Table 1 shows the 4 land cover groups, and some examples of the land uses in each group.
Land use is a sub-category of land cover describing the activity carried out under a land cover type. (There is one land use which has the same name as the land cover group – permanent grassland.)
Table 1: Examples of land cover and land use
| Land cover | Land use |
|---|---|
| Arable land | Winter wheat - Spring barley - Temporary grassland |
| Permanent grassland | Permanent grassland |
| Permanent crops | Nursery crops - Short rotation coppice - Lavender |
| Non-agricultural area | Farm building - Structure - Woodland |
Read the ’Non-agricultural land under certain agri-environment or woodland scheme agreements’ section of the Rural payments: land use codes 2024 for more information.
How we tell you we’ve updated a land parcel
If we update your land parcels, you will receive notifications in the ‘Messages’ tab in the Rural Payments service. You need to check your land maps online to see the changes.
If you need to make a change to your land maps, you can use the Rural Payments service. This is the quickest and most secure way to make changes. If you cannot use the Rural Payments service you can submit an RLE1 form.
We will tell you in writing whether your change has been made or explain why it cannot be made.
How to check your digital land maps
You can see digital maps of all the land parcels registered to your holding using the Rural Payments service.
- Sign in to the Rural Payments service.
- From the ‘Business overview’ screen, click ‘Land’ then ‘View land’.
- To view individual land parcel details, select the land parcel you need. The ‘Parcel details’ screen shows you a digital map and details of the land parcel. There is also a ‘Photo’ option as well as the ‘Map’ option.
You need to check:
- all your land parcels are shown as linked to your SBI
- the permanent boundaries are shown correctly
- the land covers are shown correctly
- land has not been linked to your SBI by mistake
Where we’ve made a change and you believe the map or any of the details are incorrect, let us know. Read the ‘What to do if you do not agree with the updates’ section of this guide.
If we agree this is an error in the mapping work we will change it. If the mapping work is correct but you do not agree with the work we’ve done, you will need to follow the instructions on what to do if you do not agree with the updates in this guide.
You need to request a change to your digital maps if you believe the map or the details are incorrect because:
- you’ve made changes to the land that are not shown in your digital maps
- you disagree with a change we’ve made
If you are not sure why the change has been made, you can contact us.
What you can expect to see
Some of the updates are small but updates such as boundary changes, area changes or land cover changes can be important and can affect your agreements or payments.
Sometimes we may have to remove a feature to make an update. In these cases, a feature may disappear from the ‘View land’ screen temporarily, but it reappears when the update is made.
For more information about scheme rules or how the changes might affect agri-environment schemes or Forestry Commission legacy schemes read the relevant guidance on:
What to do if you do not agree with the updates
Requests for changes to your digital maps and land parcel details could affect payments you’ve already received as well as future payments. Only tell us about changes if you are sure they need to be made.
You can challenge mapping changes in the Rural Payments service. Select the ‘Request Rural Land Changes’ option. There are four land change options available. Select the one that relates to your query.
Rural Land Changes (RLE1) form
If you cannot use the Rural Payments service, you can use an RLE1 form to request most changes.
Download the RLE1 form, complete it electronically and return it to us as a PDF email attachment.
If you are unable to do this, you can print the RLE1 form, fill it in by hand and post it to us.
Follow the guidance on how to complete and submit your RLE1 form.
Land parcels incorrectly linked to your holding
If you have land that has been linked to your SBI by mistake, you can remove it from your holding (record) in the Rural Payments service using ‘remove’. The Rural Payments service must show both:
- your holding type as ‘owner’
- you own 100% of the land parcel
If the Rural Payments service shows your holding type as ‘tenant’ or less than 100% of the land parcel as owned, and this information is incorrect, you need to download and fill in a change land tenure form to correct the information. When the information is correct, you will be able to use the Rural Payments service to remove land from your holding (record).
If the Rural Payments service correctly shows your holding type as ‘tenant’ or less than 100% of the land parcel as owned, you will need to call us and ask us to remove this land from your holding (record).
If you remove land from your holding record it will completely remove the land parcel from your record. This means you will not be able to claim for payment on that land parcel for agri-environment and woodland schemes. So if you still control the land parcel for one of these schemes, do not remove the land from your record.
Land cover changes
Where there is only one land cover change and it covers the whole of the land parcel, you can complete the ‘Full land cover change’ request in the Rural Payments service.
Where there is more than one land cover for a land parcel, you need to complete the ‘All other land changes’ request in the Rural Payments service.
Changes other than land incorrectly linked to your holding or land cover
If you do not agree with a change we’ve made you can use the Rural Payments service to tell us. Or, you can fill in an RLE1 form and send it to us with relevant sketch maps. You can use the Rural Payments service to print maps of your land parcels.
Adding or changing hedges
If you disagree with a length of hedge or hedge feature shown in your digital maps (or it’s not shown) you only need to send a completed RLE1 form and sketch map to us if you’re using hedges to:
- apply to join the CS scheme and including BE3 (Management of hedgerows), BN5 (Hedgerow laying) or BN6 (Hedgerow coppicing)
- submit a claim for BE3 (Management of hedgerows) against an existing CS agreement
Hedges
If you disagree with the information shown in your digital maps and you believe it affects your CS application, or your CS or ES claim you’ve submitted or intend to submit, you need to let us know as soon as possible.
Evidence required for changes
You do not need to send any specific evidence but you need to be sure the changes you request are necessary and correct.
We use the latest developments in aerial photography, so we may need further evidence from you if the aerial shots are not clear before we accept the request for change.
If you believe your request for changes is necessary, let us know in the Rural Payments service or send us an RLE1 form with your sketch maps.
Change a boundary
To change a boundary, clearly mark the boundary on the map and write on it what type of permanent boundary it is.
Add an area or feature
To add a non-agricultural area or feature, clearly mark the non-agricultural area or feature on the map and write on it what type of area or feature it is. Where possible, write the land use code from Annex 1 of the RLE1 guidance to help us record the area or feature correctly.
Remove an area or feature
To remove a non-agricultural area or feature, clearly mark the sketch map with a cross marked through the non-agricultural area or feature it and write on it that you want to remove the area or feature.
Reverse a previous mapping decision
To reverse where a land parcel has been split, clearly mark on your sketch map the boundary that has been removed and write on your sketch map if it was a permanent or temporary boundary. Also give the date you removed it, and for a temporary boundary, the date it was put in place. If you do not agree with the boundary that has been mapped, explain why and clearly mark on your sketch map where the boundary should be.
To reverse where a land parcel has been merged, clearly mark on your sketch map the correct boundary and write what type of boundary it is, such as marker posts or boundary stones.
Deadline for completing changes
There is no deadline to tell us you do not agree with a mapping change.
We review all change requests. Our response time will vary depending on whether it’s a busy time for making payments to customers.
We will tell you in writing whether we’ve agreed with your change request or explain why a change cannot be made.
Contact RPA
You can contact RPA by email, telephone or post.
Rural Payments Agency
PO Box 352
Worksop
S80 9FG
Email: ruralpayments@defra.gov.uk
Telephone: 03000 200 301
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm, except bank holidays
Find out about call charges
Last updated 18 March 2024 + show all updates
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Guide updated to remove BPS references
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Simplified and restructured guidance.
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'How to check your digital land maps' section updated to include instruction to enable 'pop ups' in internet browser.
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Refresh for 2022. Minor edits, update links etc.
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No further change to this page but an update to the previous change note which should have stated: Updated the information about the RLE1 form. Added information about when to use the Change land tenure form.
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Updated the information about the RLE1 form. During the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the RLE1 form can either be downloaded, filled in electronically and then returned as a PDF attached to an email or it can be printed, filled in by hand and returned by post. Added information about when to use the Change land tenure form.
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Updated date references for 2020.
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Removed some information about merged land parcels as no new merged parcels were created by 2019 yearly updates. Removed information about the temporary grass conversion carried out in a previous year. Added new information to ‘How to check your digital land maps’ and removed out of date instructions. Added new information to ‘Land parcels incorrectly linked to your holding’.
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Changes to: hedge information; land cover - table and telling RPA about changes where there is only one land cover. Information added: Farm Environmental Record maps; if you request a change after the annual map updates; land parcels incorrectly linked; splits and mergers. Information removed: BPS application information.
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Information about how to check and change hedges
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Image added - example of a map and photo that do not match. Image added - example of a map and photo that do match.
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First published.