RP25: Lined biobed with existing washdown area

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

£66.24 per square metre (m2).

How this item benefits the environment

A lined biobed treats the pesticide residues that arise from pesticide handling activities. It helps prevent pesticides from entering drains or water bodies, reducing the risk of water 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 in areas targeted for the reduction of water pollution from agriculture, with support from Catchment Sensitive Farming.

You cannot use this item:

• within 10 metres (m) of a watercourse
• within 50m of a spring, borehole or well which is not used to supply water for domestic use or food production without prior agreement from the Environment Agency
• within 250m of a borehole used to supply water for domestic use or food production purposes without prior agreement from the Environment Agency
• in an area that’s designated as a Groundwater Source Protection Zone 1 without prior agreement from the Environment Agency
• without relevant advice, consents or waste management licence from the Environment Agency
• 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

Get permission to use this item

You’ll need to get advice, consents and any required permits from the Environment Agency before you start work. You also must make sure you can comply with the T32 exemption requirements.

What you must do to use this item

Installing a biobed

To install a biobed below ground level, you must:

• excavate an area for the biobed
• remove and block off any field drains
• compact and slope the sides of the earth bank to 30 to 35 degrees (about 1 in 1.5) towards the base
• lay an impermeable synthetic liner at least 1.2mm thick (pesticide grade) on top of a geotextile membrane underlay (190g per m2) and add 25mm of sand blinding

To construct a biobed above ground level, you must:

• use pre-cast or reinforced concrete and a 1.2mm thick liner, or an impermeable pesticide grade container
• follow the manufacturer’s installation instructions for the liner

You must then install any necessary holding tanks, pumps and pipes for the below or above-ground biobed.

Constructing a biobed outlet

To construct a biobed outlet (except for evaporation systems), you must:

• insert a drain through the liner to create a 100mm bonded outlet at the lowest point of excavation or create an internal sump (pit where water collects) when digging the biobed pit
• lay the liner to incorporate the sump
• make sure the liner is not perforated
• insert a central, permeable, vertical access tube that’s 0.5m in diameter to llow water to flow into the sump base
• install a pump within the tube that’s operated by a float switch setting
• place a ring of perforated drainage pipe into the base of the biobed and on top of the liner – this will help the pump flow
• install pumps to carry the treated discharge from the biobed to a vegetated area for irrigation, or pump it to a storage tank for irrigation or re-use

Using offset biobeds

When using an offset biobed (which is separate to the concrete area you drive the sprayer on to), you must:

• collect pesticide washings from an existing pesticide loading and washdown area in a storage tank
• pump them for treatment in the offset biobed

Installing drive-over biobeds

When installing a drive-over biobed, you must:

• construct a bunded drive-over grid above the biobed (with supporting foundations)
• make sure the grid and its foundations are suitable for the loading of any equipment driven over the grid

How to use evaporation systems (biobeds designed to work by evaporation)

To use evaporation systems, you must:

• cover the biobed with roof sheeting, using side ventilation to allow evaporation to occur without rainfall entering the system
• prepare the biomix as detailed for a non-evaporation system, but with a 50:50 ratio of soil and straw, and without turfing over it
• base the treatment volumes on evaporation calculations
• get advice on design and volume calculations from specialists with experience in these systems

How to prepare the biomix

To prepare the biomix, you must:

• mix one part peat-free compost, one part topsoil and 2 parts straw (wheat or barley) by volume
• allow the biomix to compost for 30 to 90 days before using it to fill the biobed to an effective depth of 1m, topping it up if there’s any settlement
• use at least 1 cubic metre of biomix for every 1000 litres of liquid treated in any 12-month period
• turf over the biomix (except for evaporation systems)
• lay perforated pipes to distribute pesticide washings across the surface

The biobed does not need a cover or roof unless it’s an evaporation system.

You must not treat more than 15,000 litres of pesticide washings (excluding rainfall) in any 12-month period.

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 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 in place and installed
• 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 site before works start
• documents (including records of treatment in the biobed) associated with the T32 exemption for the treatment of waste in a biobed or biofilter registered with the Environment Agency

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 RP27: Sprayer or applicator load and washdown area.

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.

Choosing a location

Construct the biobed in an area:

• set aside for pesticide loading and washing operations
• where there’s no other traffic

Maintaining the biobed

Add fresh, pre-composted biomix to the biobed every year to maintain 1m depth. Replace the biomix every 5 years. You’ll need a U10 or U11 exemption to spread the biomix to land. Only use the biobed to treat pesticide washings. Take care removing the biomix from the biobed to ensure the liner is not damaged.

Read more information about pesticide handling areas and biobeds including sizing and volume calculations on the Voluntary Initiative website.

What to do with pesticide washings

Use a pump with an automatic float switch to remove the pesticide washings from the sump or holding tank of the loading and washdown area before capacity is reached. Transfer the washings to the biobed for treatment.