New '3 tier' approach for higher level stewardship scheme applications

From 1 July 2011, Natural England is launching a new ’3-Tier’ way of handling Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) applications that will help to make the application process more streamlined and efficient for its farming customers.

From July onwards any new HLS applications will be managed by one of three routes - either ’Fast-track’, ’Standard’ or ’Complex’. The new process is being introduced to help deal more efficiently with the future demand for HLS agreements. It is being brought in following feedback from farmers and after consultation with industry representatives, independent agronomists and conservation organisations.

The new approach will allow Natural England advisers to deliver the most appropriate level of advice and support according to the complexity of an application and help speed up application preparation and processing times.

The change will affect HLS scheme applicants and agents who handle Farm Environmental Plan (FEP) and HLS work. The main difference will be where holdings come under the Fast-track application tier, anticipated to be up to 30% of HLS applications. These applications along with the FEP survey will be delivered ’in-house’ by a Natural England adviser. As a result, these farmers will no longer need to commission or pay for a FEP survey. Fast-track applications will benefit from faster processing and direct contact with an adviser throughout the application process.

Ian Fugler, Director of Land Management for Natural England, says: "Streamlining the HLS application process is timely because in 2011-12 we are expecting that more farmers will start Higher Level Stewardship agreements than ever before, with as many as 2,400 HLS applications, worth up to £40m, expected to start during the year. These changes to the application process benefit HLS applicants thanks to shorter turnaround times for applications and less paperwork for Fast-track tier applicants."

Two online web conferences are being organised by Natural England in August and September to take land agents through the 3-Tier HLS process to give them the opportunity to discuss any queries.

Further information can be found on the Natural England HLS web-pages at www.naturalengland.org.uk/es. The HLS Handbook’s ’Official List of Changes’ has been updated to reflect the 3-Tier HLS changes and the HLS Farm Environment Plan (FEP) Manual will also be revised.

HLS will continue to be a competitive, discretionary and targeted scheme and no changes will occur to the scheme rules, eligibility criteria, options available or the environmental objectives of the scheme as a result of the introduction of the 3-Tier application process. Anyone interested in a HLS agreement on their land, needs to register that interest with Natural England directly or via an agent or by calling 0300 060 0011.

Mr Fugler added: "We have seen exceptional demand for HLS agreements, with more applications than it is possible to fund. We’re working hard to turn as many applications as possible into agreements and this is reflected in the record number we expect to start in 2011-12. As HLS is a competitive scheme, it’s inevitable that some applications will be unsuccessful and I would urge anyone unable to join HLS to consider whether they could benefit from other schemes such as Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) or Uplands ELS."