WN7: Restoration of large water bodies

This item is part of Higher Tier Capital Grants 2025. You must read the Higher Tier 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

Up to 100% of actual costs.

How this item benefits the environment

It restores the wildlife value of large water bodies that have become degraded.

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

Where you can use this item

With the approval of Natural England, you can use this item on sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs) and on ecologically degraded water bodies of 2 hectares or more.

You must do this item alongside a management action or option which supports the favourable management of the waterbody.

You will need to get any necessary consents from the Environment Agency, lead local flood authority or internal drainage board before you start any work.

What you must do to use this item

You must:

• agree a detailed specification with Natural England
• provide at least 3 written quotations to complete the agreed works including associated costings with your application
• agree the selected quotation with Natural England
• complete the works according to the agreed specification and timescale

You must not carry out any construction work related to the item unless you have approval from Natural England.

You should discuss and agree requirements that are specific to your site with your adviser.

Evidence you must keep

You must keep and provide with your claim:

• receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is not available
• photographs of the completed work

You must also keep and provide on request:

• photographs of the site before works start
• the agreed specification
• any consents or permissions connected with the work

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 AC3: Install and maintain signage to install signs which encourage positive visitor behaviour

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.

You can use this item to support the implementation of lake restoration plans. You can use PA1: Implementation plan or PA2: Feasibility study to fund the plans.

You can use it to deliver one or more of the following:

• water management
• scrub management
• management of invasive non-native species
• fish removal – read guidance on getting permission to move live fish to or from a fishery
• bird control
• desilting