RP29: Self-supporting covers for slurry and anaerobic digestate stores

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the self supporting covers for slurry stores item.

• From: Rural Payments Agency and Natural England
• Published: 2 April 2015
• Last updated: 30 March 2021 — 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

£29.50 per square metre.

Where to use this item

Available for Countryside Stewardship Mid Tier, Higher Tier and Capital Grants.

Only:

• in areas targeted for the reduction of water and air pollution from agriculture
• for roofing an existing above ground circular store
• with support from a Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF) officer

Where this item cannot be used

• for existing square or rectangular slurry or on-farm anaerobic digestate stores
• for floating covers
• to cover any structure other than a slurry or on-farm anaerobic digestate store
• without relevant advice or consents from the Environment Agency (EA) or Local Planning Authority

How this item will benefit the environment

This item will provide a self-supporting cover to an existing circular slurry or on-farm anaerobic digestate store. This will stop rainwater from entering slurry or anaerobic digestate stores and reduce the volume of dirty water that needs to be stored and spread. It will also improve air quality by reducing ammonia emissions.

Requirements

• install a self-supporting cover with a minimum design life of 20 years (with maintenance)
• install a rainproof, self-supporting cover, supported above the slurry or anaerobic digestate store and fastened by tensioners to the side of the tank
• make sure the tank is able to support the cover
• install the cover when the store is empty
• direct the rainwater away from the slurry or anaerobic digestate store into a clean water drain or rainwater harvesting system
• display appropriate signs to warn of the dangers of confined spaces and fragile covers
• meet the requirements of the SSAFO regulations 2010 and Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) requirements
• meet relevant British Standards - examine copies of the most up-to-date standards for guidance

Keeping records

Agreement holders will need to keep the following records and supply them on request:

• any consents or permissions connected with the work
• receipted invoices, or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
• photographs of site before works start

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.

Agreement holders will need to keep the following records and supply them with the claim:

• photographs of the completed work

Before applying, applicants must seek advice from:

• the Environment Agency, to check what is required as new and significantly altered stores may have to meet the silage, slurry and agricultural fuel oil (SSAFO) regulations 2010
• the local planning authority, to check whether planning permission is required to carry out the planned works

You do not need to provide this with your application, but you will need to submit consents/permissions with your payment claim.

Applicants will have to send the following with their application:

• written support from a CSF officer

Advice and suggestions for how to carry out this item

The following section gives advice on carrying out this item successfully but does not form part of the requirements for this item.

How to get more detailed advice

Further design advice is available on how to size the loading and washdown area and holding tanks, and on pesticide washing volume calculations, from CSF.

Consult an engineer before using this item

Before work is carried out, a structural or civil engineer must check that the existing store is able to support a cover. A specialist supplier or tank manufacturer should be consulted.

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.

Published 2 April 2015
Last updated 30 March 2021 + show all updates

1. 30 March 2021

   'Air quality' added to Land use.

2. 3 March 2021

   Updated wording in the following sections: Where to use this item, Where this item cannot be used, Where this item cannot be used, How this item will benefit the environment and Requirements.

3. 1 February 2021

   Update to title to include: and anaerobic digestate stores. Added in links to Capital Grants manual as this option is now available for Capital Grants

4. 29 March 2016

   Information updated for applications in 2016

5. 2 April 2015

   First published.