Guidance

Water grants 2015: resurfacing of gateways (RP1)

Eligibility and requirements for resurface of gateways.

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This guidance was withdrawn on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

£92 per unit.

Where the item is available

The item can be used:

  • on gateways primarily used for moving farm machinery or livestock; and
  • only in areas targeted to reduce water pollution caused by farming.

Applicants must have the support of a Catchment Sensitive Farming officer to use this option.

When this item can’t be used

It can’t be used where it might damage environmental or historic features.

How this item will benefit the environment

This item will help to reduce flooding on either side of the gateways caused by soil compaction. If successful you’ll see reduced runoff and soil erosion.

Requirements

Applicants will also need to:

  • get advice from a historic environment specialist if your gateway is on a historic routeway; and

  • send any advice or consent they receive from the Highways Authority if a public right of way passes through their gateway 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 Catchment Sensitive Farming officer.

  • Applicants must send dated photographs of the existing site with their application for this item.

On the land

Successful applicants will need to:

  • dig the full width of the gateway to the full length of the gate opening into the field when the gate is open 90 degrees;
  • dig down to at least 150mm deep or until a naturally occurring sub-base is hit;
  • remove the dug soil from the gateway area and spread it on the verges of the field track, allowing for drainage; and
  • overlay the newly dug area with a geotextile membrane, and then fill with aggregate (hard core) to a minimum consolidated depth of 150mm.

Make sure that the work meets relevant British Standards.

Keeping records

Successful applicants will need to keep:

  • dated photographs taken before and after construction (submit these with any claim and show them on request);
  • receipted invoices and bank statements relating to this work; and
  • any other planning permissions or regulatory consents.

What must not be done

Applicants must not damage any environmental or historic features.

How to carry out this item

The following section gives advice on carrying out this item successfully.

Materials and resurface area

Successful applicants should:

  • measure the area they’re resurfacing so it’s relative in size to the gateway and the type of traffic that will move through it;
  • compact down each layer of hard core well before adding another layer, making sure each layer is no more than 150mm thick; and
  • get advice from the Environment Agency (EA) first if road planings, waste or recycled materials will be used as hard core.

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

Published 2 March 2015
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