Capital Grant Scheme Update: Just Under 75% of Funding Allocated
The Capital Grant scheme, which reopened on 3 July 2025, has received a high volume of interest. To date, just under 75% of the available funding has been allocated, with over 6,700 applications submitted.
The scheme provides £150 million to support a wide range of nature-friendly farming activities. A total of 78 eligible items is included in this round, such as:
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Hedgerow planting
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Habitat restoration
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Educational infrastructure
The current round will close to new applications once the remaining funding is committed. At that point, no further applications will be accepted, including those that have been started but not submitted. It is also important to note that funding is not guaranteed, even for applications that are submitted and meet the eligibility criteria.
While reasonable notice of closure will be given where possible, this may not always be feasible due to the pace of applications.
Further updates and improvements to the scheme are planned, with a new round expected to open in 2026.
Members may wish to ensure that farmers are aware of the current status of the Capital Grant and the importance of submitting applications promptly if they intend to apply.
More information is available on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Farming Blog.
Author
Vicky Robinson
Vicky Robinson is Head of Sustainability and is responsible for leading and co-ordinating AIC's work on sustainability.
