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Sally Blowey MRICS FAAV, Associate and Rural Chartered Surveyor, from our Tavistock and Launceston offices, has a look at the sudden closure of the capital grant scheme following an increase in applications;
Capital Grant applications were unexpectedly closed to new applications on 27th November 2024 contrary to previous guidance from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) stating that 6 weeks’ notice would be given.
The RPA have since reported that demand for stand-alone capital grants has been exceptionally high: applications from May to November this year were worth 42% more than all applications received in the last financial year and the RPA are forecast to spend 49% more on capital grants this year than was paid out in 2023/24 and 125% more than in 2022/23.
The closure has been done to prioritise funds for areas that will have the greatest benefit for food security and nature conservation. The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) for example remains open for applications.
The main part of the Capital Grant offer will remain closed until early 2025 when a further detailed update on capital grants is expected, including specifics about new applications, eligibility criteria, and processes, so the closure is anticipated to be temporary.
Anyone who has applied for a capital grant but not yet received an agreement offer will have received an email from the RPA informing them that their application is on hold. All applicants will be contacted in early 2025 with next steps.
Payments under existing agreements will continue as usual following the current process so anyone with a live agreement is encouraged to continue with the agreed work and submit capital claims as normal.
If you have any queries regarding the capital grant scheme or if you are interested in applying for funding under the Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme and would like to know more please contact our Professional Services team on 01884 235701 or [email protected].
