The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is England’s mechanism for delivering funds for the next seven year period (2007-2013). These funds are allocated to England from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The RDPE replaces the England Rural Development Programme (ERDP) which ran from 2000 to 2006.
The RDPE includes delivery of the English Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) by Forestry Commission England, and Environmental Stewardship by Natural England. It will also include a new approach to delivering socio-economic funding through the Regional Development Agencies and Leader partnerships. This will replace the current project based schemes e.g. Rural Enterprise Scheme, Processing and Marketing Grants, Vocational Training Scheme.
Whilst the RDPE began on the 1st January 2007, programme approval was delayed until 7th December, so transition plans were in place for EWGS during 2007. Those arrangements have now ended. The new programme has introduced some changes in the way EWGS operates:
Changes in the amount of EU co-finance EWGS grants can receive
Capped Farm Woodland Payment rates for non-farmers
Introduction of a penalty regime should claimants make false or incorrect claims
The need for all EWGS applicants and their land to be registered before applying
Claim inspection requirements
New EWGS contract Terms & Conditions
EWGS grant types remain unaltered under RDPE at this stage. Annual budgets for applications will continue to be promoted by the Forestry Commission through its annual Prospectus, published each spring.
Further information about the RDPE can be found on the Defra RDPE website.
