RP15: Concrete yard renewal

How much you’ll be paid 

£33.64 per square metre (m²).) - this will be converted into hectares in your agreement.

How this item benefits the environment

Upgrading existing outdoor (uncovered) yards improves how slurry and other effluents are managed and makes it easier to clean the yard. This reduces the risk of water and air pollution. 

This item can help you protect, recover and improve biodiversity on your land.

Where you can use this item  

You can only use this item with support from Catchment Sensitive Farming:

• on farms targeted to reduce water and air pollution from agriculture
• where renewing the concrete will reduce pollution, including keeping slurry and  effluent separate from clean water
• where the concrete covering the yard is used to direct slurry, contaminated water and effluent into systems which contain and manage them – it must comply with relevant legislation

Catchment Sensitive Farming provides advice where there are water quality or flood risk issues linked to farming.      

You must contact your local planning authority to get advice and to check if planning permission is needed. 

You cannot use this item:

• on covered or indoor yards
• for the flooring of silage clamps, manure or slurry stores
• in areas housing livestock
• where the pollution issue or risk has been created within the past 5 years (for example, by development of new buildings)
• where the proposal will lead to the expansion or intensification of your business
• on historic or archaeological features identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER)
• on areas of wildlife interest identified on your Farm Environment Record (FER) or on MAGIC

What you must do to use this item

 You must:

• construct an upgraded concrete base to make it easier to clean and manage yard run-off, whilst not increasing the risk of silage or manure effluent  loss
• construct the base with concrete at least 150 millimetres (mm) thick on compacted and blinded hardcore that’s at least 150mm thick
• reinforce the concrete base (for example, with weldmesh or structural fibres) 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’s resistant to effluent damage
• only fully load the concrete when it achieves its design strength (after 28 days)

You must not roof over an outside yard receiving aid through this item (even at your own expense).

Evidence you must keep 

You must keep written support from your Catchment Sensitive Farming adviser and provide with your application. 

You must also keep and provide with your 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
• any consents or permissions from the local planning authority

If you do not need consent or permission from your local planning authority, you must provide evidence to show this. This can be a:

• letter from the authority confirming you do not need permission
• note of a telephone conversation with a local authority representative, with the name, date, and time of the call
• link to online guidance or printout of guidance text which shows you do not need permission

You must also keep and provide 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 provided with your claim)

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.

If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the CSHT agreement holder’s guide.

Other items you can use with this item

You can use this item with these items:

RP5: Cross drains

RP13: Yard - underground drainage pipework

RP14: Yard inspection pit

RP16: Rainwater goods

RP18: Above ground tanks

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.   

British Standards  

Check to make sure the work meets relevant British Standards.Standards.

Choosing a location

You can locate this item:

• in high traffic areas or in livestock movement and loafing areas within the curtilage of the farmyard
• on uncovered outdoor yards made of concrete, hardcore, stone, gravel, tarmac or bare earth within the curtilage of the farmyard

Keeping clean water and slurry separate

You should not let slurry, effluent or   contaminatedcontaminated water mix with clean water. Plan how to manage any additional runoff from the impermeable concrete area. To do this, you may need to reassess the yard drainage which may include adding :

• cross drains
• catchpits
• gullies
• kerbs
• sleeping policemen

Protecting soil, water and air from pollution

Read the Code of Good Agricultural Practice about protecting soil, water and air from pollution.