RP15: Concrete yard renewal

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the concrete yard renewal item.

From:
Rural Payments Agency and Natural England
Published
2 April 2015
Last updated
5 January 2023 — See all updates
Grant type:
Capital item
Land use:
Air quality, Biodiversity, Uplands and Water quality
Tiers or standalone items:
Higher Tier, Mid Tier and Standalone capital items
Funding (per unit per year):
Up to £100

How much will be paid

£33.64 per square metre.   

Where to use this item

Available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier, Higher Tier and Capital Grants only:

  • on farms targeted for the reduction of water and air pollution from agriculture
  • where the concrete will reduce pollution, including keeping dirty water and effluent separate from clean water
  • where the concrete will be used to direct dirty water, effluent and clean water into suitable containment and management systems which comply (or will comply) with relevant legislation
  • with support from Catchment Sensitive Farming

Where this item cannot be used

  • On covered or indoor yards
  • Manure, silage or slurry stores
  • Areas housing livestock
  • On environmental, historic or archaeological features identified on the Farm Environment Record (FER), the Environmental Information Map or the Historic Environment Farm Environmental Record (HEFER)
  • Without relevant advice or permission from the Local Planning Authority (if required)
  • Where the pollution risk has been created within the past 5 years, for example by development of new building(s)
  • Where the proposal will lead to the expansion or intensification of the enterprise

How this item will benefit the environment

It improves or upgrades existing outdoor (uncovered) yard drainage to reduce foul drainage volumes and runoff, makes cleaning easier and reduces the risk of water and air pollution.

Requirements

You must:

  • construct an upgraded concrete base to facilitate cleaning and manage yard run-off, whilst not increasing the risk of silage or manure effluent loss
  • construct the base with concrete (a minimum of 150 millimetres (mm) thick) on compacted and blinded hardcore that is at least 150mm thick
  • reinforce the concrete base to minimise cracking and distribute the loads exerted by livestock or farm vehicles
  • lay the concrete in bays and treat all joints with sealant that is resistant to effluent damage
  • only fully load the concrete when it achieves its design strength (equivalent to 28 day strength)
  • make sure that all work meets relevant British Standards - examine copies of the most up-to-date standards for guidance

Do not:

  • roof over (even at your own expense) an outside yard receiving aid through this item

Keeping records

You must send the following with your application:

  • written support from CSF

You must keep the following records and supply them with your payment claim:

  • photographs of the site during the different stages of construction or contracts, invoices or other documents confirming the technical specification for the completed works
  • photographs of the completed works in place and installed
  • any consents or permissions from the Local Planning Authority if required

You must keep the following records and supply them on request:

  • receipted invoices, or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
  • photographs of site before works start
  • any consents or permissions connected with the work (in addition to the ones stated above)

Please see the record keeping and inspection requirements as set out in the relevant Mid Tier, Higher Tier or Capital Grants guidance for more detail. You can find the latest guidance at Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage.

You can use this item on the same area as the following items:

Advice and suggestions for how to carry out this item

The following advice is helpful, but they are not requirements for this item.

You can use this item:

  • 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 and runoff, make cleaning easier and reduce the risk of water and air pollution.
  • to help separate clean and dirty water

Get more advice

More detailed information about using this item is available through Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF).

Keep clean and dirty water separate

Do not let foul or dirty water contaminate clean water. Plan how to manage any additional runoff from the impermeable concrete area. You may need to restructure some clean and dirty drains, which may include adding:

  • cross drains
  • catchpits
  • gulleys
  • kerbs
  • sleeping policemen

Biodiversity

This item has been identified as being beneficial for biodiversity. All Countryside Stewardship habitat creation, restoration and management options are of great significance for biodiversity recovery, as are the wide range of arable options in the scheme. Capital items and supplements can support this habitat work depending on the holding’s situation and potential.

The connectivity of habitats is also very important and habitat options should be linked wherever possible. Better connectivity will allow wildlife to move/colonise freely to access water, food, shelter and breeding habitat, and will allow natural communities of both animals and plants to adapt in response to environmental and climate change.

Further information

You can read information about separating clean and dirty water at The Rivers Trust.

Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) operates in parts of the country where there are water quality issues linked to farming. The scheme provides farmers with free advice and training. See guidance for further information on CSF support.

Read Countryside Stewardship: get funding to protect and improve the land you manage to find out more information about Mid Tier, Higher Tier and Capital Grants including how to apply.

Updates to this page

Published 2 April 2015
Last updated 5 January 2023 + show all updates

  1. Where to use this item, Where this item cannot be used, Keeping records sections of this page have been updated

  2. 'Air quality' added to Land use.

  3. Amended wording in Where to use this item, How this item will benefit the environment, Requirements and Advice and suggestions for how to carry out this item.

  4. Added in links to Capital Grants manual as this option is now available for Capital Grants

  5. The Keeping records section of this page has been updated

  6. Additional bullet added * without relevant advice or permission from the Local Planning Authority under the Where this item cannot be used section

  7. Updated for 2017 applications.

  8. Information updated for applications in 2016

  9. First published.

Contents

Related content