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RP21

Relocation of sheep pens only

Capital Items open_in_new View on RPA Website

£1772.35

per unit · one-off

info Summary

RP21 is a Capital Grant item providing £1,772.35 per unit for relocating sheep pens to reduce water pollution from sheep dips and enhance biodiversity. This action is available with Catchment Sensitive Farming support in areas targeted for water pollution reduction.

format_list_bulleted What to do

  • Comply with the Groundwater Protection Code.
  • Install new sheep holding pens at least:
    • 10m from watercourses (streams, ditches, land drains, wetlands)
    • 30m from watercourses that drain into protected conservation sites (e.g., SSSIs)
    • 50m from any spring, well or borehole
  • Do not install pens or dip baths on a slope, at the top of a slope, or on under-drained land if there’s a risk of spillage draining to a watercourse, road or track.

checklist How to do

  • Comply with the Groundwater Protection Code.
  • Install new sheep holding pens at least:
    • 10m from watercourses (streams, ditches, land drains, wetlands)
    • 30m from watercourses that drain into protected conservation sites (e.g., SSSIs)
    • 50m from any spring, well or borehole
  • Do not install pens or dip baths on a slope, at the top of a slope, or on under-drained land if there’s a risk of spillage draining to a watercourse, road or track.

description Evidence Required

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

You must also keep and provide with your claim:

  • photographs of the completed work
  • any consents or permissions connected with the work

You must also keep and provide on request:

  • receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
  • photographs of the existing site and current dipping facilities before works start

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.

tips_and_updates Additional Advice

  • Check work meets relevant British Standards.
  • Obtain an environmental permit to discharge sheep dip to land, or vary an existing one if the discharge location changes.
  • Construct drain pens that are large enough (at least 10 minutes holding time), have sealed floors and built-in slopes for drainage, use impermeable concrete with watertight joints, and include a filter or trap to prevent dirt from returning to the bath.
  • Avoid using this item close to historic farmsteads, listed buildings, or sites of archaeological/historic importance (check HEFER and consult Historic England for scheduled monument consent).
  • Consider the character of the landscape when constructing new fencing lines, especially in designated landscapes or historic parkland.

View Official Guidelines

Access detailed information about this action on the RPA website

open_in_new Visit RPA Website

info Additional Information

RP21: Relocation of sheep pens only

This item is part of Capital Grants 2025. You must read the Capital Grants 2025 guidance to understand the rules and how to apply.

If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, you must read the CSHT applicant’s guide to understand the rules and how to apply.

How much you’ll be paid

£1,772.35 per unit.

How this item benefits the environment

Relocating sheep dipping pens to a new location can help reduce the risk of water pollution. Pollution from sheep dips can cause damage to people and aquatic wildlife.

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 in areas targeted for the reduction of water pollution from agriculture.

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

You can also use this item to move a static holding pen used with a mobile sheep dip.

You cannot use this item:

  • to build new, permanent sheep dip facilities on a farm where there are no existing dipping facilities
  • to replace existing equipment in the same location

Get permission to use this item

You should consult Natural England if you plan to install this item on a site of special scientific interest (SSSI).

You’ll need to get relevant advice, consents or permits from the Environment Agency before starting any work.

You must also contact your local planning authority to check if planning permission is needed.

What you must do to use this item

You must comply with the Groundwater Protection Code and install new sheep holding pens at least:

  • 10 metres (m) from watercourses including streams, ditches, land drains and wetlands
  • 30m from watercourses that drain into protected conservation sites such as SSSIs
  • 50m from any spring, well or borehole

If there’s a risk of spillage draining to a watercourse, road or track, do not install the pens or dip baths:

  • on a slope
  • at the top of a slope
  • on land which is under drained

Evidence you must keep

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

You must also keep and provide with your claim:

  • photographs of the completed work
  • any consents or permissions connected with the work

You must also keep and provide on request:

  • receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
  • photographs of the existing site and current dipping facilities before works start

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 capital items you can use with this item

This item can be used on the same area as these items:

RP20: Relocation of sheep dips and pens

RP22: Sheep dip drainage aprons and sumps

RP23: Installation of livestock drinking troughs (in draining pens for freshly dipped sheep)

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.

How to get a permit to discharge sheep dip

You’ll need an environmental permit to discharge sheep dip to land. If you already have an environmental permit, you’ll need to vary it if the location of the discharge area changes.

Constructing drain pens

You should construct drain pens that:

  • are large enough to hold sheep for at least 10 minutes after dipping
  • have sealed floors and built-in slopes – this allows excess dip to drain back to the bath rather than soaking into the ground, soil or a surface water drain
  • have concrete areas that are impermeable and with watertight sealed joints
  • have a filter or trap to prevent dirt draining back into the bath

Protecting the historic environment

You should not use this item:

  • close to a historic farmstead or listed building – you can get advice on listed building consent from your local authority
  • on sites of archaeological or historic importance as identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (HEFER) – you can get advice on scheduled monument consent from Historic England before using this item on such sites

You should also consider the character of the landscape when constructing new fencing lines. This particularly applies in designated landscapes or historic parkland.

Questions about RP21?

Ask Tom anything about this subsidy, eligibility, evidence requirements, or compatibility with other actions.