PA1: Implementation plan

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the implementation plan item.

• From: Rural Payments Agency and Natural England
• Published: 2 April 2015
• Last updated: 31 March 2016 — See all updates

• Grant type: Capital item
• Land use: Flood risk, Priority habitats, Uplands and Water quality
• Tiers or standalone items: Standalone capital items
• Funding (per unit per year): More than £500

You must read the Apply for a capital grants plan guidance to understand the rules and how to apply for this capital item.

How much you’ll be paid 

£1,200 per plan

How this item benefits the environment

This plan will help you identify the works you should complete to create or restore habitat or features. The work may:

• improve biodiversity
• improve water quality
• help with carbon capture
• improve climate adaptation
• enhance priority habitats
• improve the historic environment

Where you can use this item 

With written permission from Natural England, you can use this item as a standalone agreement to support an application or existing agreement.

If you’re applying for a successive PA1 on the same land for the same project, you must: 

• provide evidence of what outcomes were achieved in previous years 
• explain why you need funding for a new implementation plan, for example, to respond to a change in dynamic river or coastal habitats 

What you must do to use this item

You must:

• produce a brief for the implementation plan and agree this with Natural England
• commission the implementation plan and make sure it’s completed in line with the specification by an agreed date
• submit a copy of the completed implementation plan with your claim for approval by Natural England

The detailed requirements for this item will be adapted to your site. You should discuss and agree these requirements with your adviser. You might need to get advice from the Forestry Commission if your plan affects trees or woodland.

Evidence you must keep 

You must keep and provide on request:

• consents or permissions connected with the work
• receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is not available (if applicable)
• a copy of the implementation plan

Read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the Agreement holder’s guide: Capital Grants, Higher Tier capital grants and Protection and Infrastructure grants for more information.

Other items you can use with this item

You can use this item to plan works for biodiversity, water management, historic environment and climate change actions, as well as other capital items such as FM2: Major preparatory works and PA2: Feasibility study.

Advice to help you use this item

The following advice may help you to use this item, but you do not have to follow it to get paid. It’s not part of this item’s requirements.

Climate change

You should consider the local effects of climate change when planning works.

Published 2 April 2015
Last updated 31 March 2016 + show all updates

1. 31 March 2016

   Information updated for applications in 2016.

2. 14 October 2015

   Update to 'where this item is available' and 'keeping records' sections.

3. 2 April 2015

   First published.