Welsh Assembly Minister for Rural Affairs Elin Jones recently announced a radical overhaul to the way environmental funding will be administered in Wales.
From 2012 the 5 existing environment schemes in Wales will be scrapped and replaced by a single scheme called ‘Glastir’. These changes spell the end for the existing schemes Tir Gofal, Tir Mynydd, Tir Cynnal, Organic Farming Scheme and Better Woodlands for Wales.
The new scheme will be split into two tiers with Tier 1 being available to the whole of Wales and Tier 2 to specific regions. Farms entering into Tier 1 will receive £28 per hectare with a further 20% available for less favoured areas (LFA). Dairy farms within an LFA will, for the first time, be able to claim the LFA payments previously unavailable to them under the Tir Mynydd Scheme.
Tier 2 funding will be targeted at specific areas in Wales and will be aimed towards improving Carbon Management, water quality and biodiversity. These areas have not been specified yet.
From 2012 there will be £5 million per annum available for capital grants aimed at supporting renewable energy schemes, energy efficient technology and for the supply of permissive and educational access. It is thought that grants will fund up to 40% of the project to a maximum of £25,000.
Capital grants will also be available for farms within Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZ) for the improvement slurry and manure handling facilities.
New applications for the existing Tir Gofal and Tir Cynnal Schemes have been closed with immediate effect and agreements currently under negotiation or in place will end in 2013 or before. It is thought that the first application window for the new scheme is likely to be in the summer of 2010, with the first contracts taking effect in January 2012.
Fisher German will be monitoring the new scheme closely and if you need assistance with an application or any advice on renewable energy schemes, please do not hesitate to contact either John Jo Roberts 01565 757975 email john.roberts@fishergerman.co.uk or contact your local office.
