Guidance

Water grants 2015: outdoor concrete yard renewal (RP15)

Eligibility and requirements for concrete yard renewal.

From:
Natural England
Published
2 March 2015

This guidance was withdrawn on

Capital items for improving water quality are now available through the Mid Tier of Countryside Stewardship.

Applies to England

Farmers and other land managers can apply for water grants.

Read the accompanying guidance to find out more about Countryside Stewardship water grants 2015.

How much will be paid

£27.14 per square metre.

Where the item is available

This item is available in Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) target areas. This item can only be used on farmyards affected by water pollution caused by farming.

When this item can’t be used

It can’t be used on:

  • indoor yards or any form of covered yard;
  • manure, silage or slurry stores;
  • areas housing livestock; or
  • areas where it might damage environmental or historic features.

How this item will benefit the environment

This item improves how existing outdoor yards separate clean and dirty water which reduces the risk of runoff and water pollution.

Requirements

Get consents and advice

Before applying, contact the Environment Agency (EA) to check if its consent is needed. Applicants must send any advice or consent they receive from the EA with their application.

With permission from Natural England, advice and consent can be received up until 29 May 2015; applicants can discuss this with their local CSF officer.

Applicants must also send dated photographs of the existing site with the application.

Renewing a concrete yard

Successful applicants will need to:

  • make sure that the work meets relevant British Standards
  • build an upgraded concrete base so silage effluent doesn’t escape;
  • build the base with concrete that’s at least 150mm thick on compacted and blinded hardcore that’s at least as thick;
  • reinforce the concrete base to minimise cracking caused by livestock or farm vehicles moving over it;
  • lay the concrete in bays and treat all joints with sealant that’s resistant to effluent damage; and
  • only fully load concrete until it achieves its design strength.

Records you need to keep

Successful applicants will need to keep:

  • dated photographs taken before, during and after the works have taken place, verifying concrete depths and materials used (submit these with any claim and show them on request); and
  • receipted invoices and bank statements relating to this work.

How to carry out this option

The following section gives advice on carrying out this item successfully. This item can be used:

  • in high traffic areas or in livestock movement and loafing areas;
  • on uncovered outdoor yards made of concrete, hardcore, tarmac or bare earth;
  • to reduce foul drainage volumes, run-off and risk of water pollution; and
  • to help separate clean and dirty water.

Get more advice

More detailed information about using this item is available through the CSF officer. Applicants may also be able to request an infrastructure audit or a slurry and manure handling plan.

Try to keep clean and dirty water separate

Foul or dirty water should not be allowed to contaminate clean water. Consideration will need to manage any additional runoff from the impermeable concrete area. Applicants may need to re-organise clean and dirty drains, or add:

  • cross drains;
  • catchpits;
  • gullies;
  • kerbs; or
  • sleeping policemen.

Comply with water resources regulations

Applicants should comply with the Water Resources Regulations 2010 when managing foul or dirty water such as slurry or manure residues. Maintained channels and pipes should last at least 20 years.

This item can be used on the same area as the following options and supplements:

Further information

The Rivers Trust has further guidance on dirty water separation.

Published 2 March 2015
Contents