20 February 2015
England Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020
The European Commission approved England’s Programme on 13 February 2015. Defra will now start opening schemes for applications; indeed, Woodland Capital grants, which are now part of Countryside Stewardship, opened on 17 February. The programme schedule is below, and is subject to change. The application window for a number of schemes is very short.
Countryside Stewardship £3.1bn
1
RDPE growth package £456m
(Delivered by Natural England and Forestry Commission) Voluntary and competitive scheme that funds farmers and foresters for environmental land management, including water quality, in 5 year agreements. There will be one agreement per holding. Replaces Environment Stewardship and woodland grants. Existing agreements continue. 159 local targeting frameworks will be used to score applications. There will be higher tier, mid-‐tier and capital grants.
1
February March April May 17 Feb: Woodland Capital grants open (NB woodland creation grants open to 31 May)
Countryside Productivity £141m
(Delivered by Rural Payments Agency) For increasing productivity, competitiveness, use of technology and research, starting businesses and skills and training. Grant funding per application is £5 – 150,000 over three years.
June
2 Mar: Water capital grant opens (to 30 April) 17 Mar: Facilitation fund for landscape scale apps opens (to 30 April) From 17 Mar: Mid-‐tier targeting frameworks and other guidance for the scheme published
July
Aug
Sept
Oct – Dec
From July: main scheme opens (to late 23 Mar: work starts identifying land suitable for higher Sept), with agreements starting 2016 tier grants
2 Mar: Capital grant scheme opens
2 Mar: European Innovation Partnership (EIP) open for From July: EIP opens for applications expressions of interest on knowledge transfer From July: Industry-‐led projects on animal disease, improving nitrogen efficiency and woodfuel supply chains From July: Farm business start-‐up grant opens, for farmers under 40 setting up their first holding
Budgeted spending to 2020, not annual. £2.1bn of this is already spent on existing scheme commitments so there will only be £0.9m for new agreements.
February
March
April
May
June
23 Mar: calls for proposals in a few LEP areas
July Aug Sept Oct – Dec From July: Training, knowledge exchange and demonstration funding opens
RDPE growth package £456m
Growth Programme £177m (Delivered by Local Enterprise Partnerships) Funding through Local Enterprise Partnerships, based on evidence-‐based needs as set out in the LEPs’ local ESIF strategies. Support will therefore vary between LEP areas. Support will focus on small and micro-‐businesses, tourism, agri-‐food businesses and business-‐led renewables. Also for skills and business advice for rural businesses, broadband and community renewables projects. Min grant of £35,000 and usually up to 40% of eligible costs. For more information, see ESIF Growth Programme pages on gov.uk.
RDPE growth package £456m
LEADER
From July: Other LEP calls begin
£138m
(Delivered by LEADER Local Action Groups) 2 Mar: Details of approved LEADER LAGs Funding will be delivered through LEADER Local From July: LAGs will invite Expressions of Interest for published, including their Action Groups (LAGs) to meet locally identified Mid May: guidance project proposals that will help to deliver the priorities approved b udgets priorities, particularly job creation and growth. provided to LAGs that have been agreed Grants will focus on increasing farm and forest NB L AGs w ill n ot c over productivity, micro/small and start-‐up 100% of rural England businesses and farm diversification, rural tourism, provision of rural services and cultural/heritage activity. Notes: all dates are approximate and white boxes show period each grant is open for applications e.g., the Countryside Stewardship water capital grant is open for applications from 2 March to the end of April – a short period!