RPA Plan Pilot Test For Commons To Enter Countryside Stewardship

Julia Aglionby, Executive Director of the Foundation for Common Land announced, “We are delighted to report that the Rural Payments Agency has informed us it has made progress in incorporating the necessary functionality into their computer systems. This follows an active campaign to ensure commons can apply for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT).”

The Rural Payments Agency plans to trial the process by inviting a small number of commons to apply to CSHT in September 2026. Once the RPA’s functionality has been tested with these commons then the RPA anticipate other commons will be able to use this new application process. The Foundation for Common Land and other key stakeholders are now actively involved in shaping the roll out of the application process for common land.

Robin Milton, Trustee of the Foundation for Common Land, added, “It is essential that all Commons planning to apply for Countryside Stewardship undertake the necessary surveys in advance as completion of these are a requirement to being invited to apply.” These may include peatland restoration surveys, ecological habitat mapping and consent for fencing and other works on common land. Most of these works can be funded through a capital PA2 Grant and early contact with your Natural England advisor is strongly recommended.”

Bog Asphodel on Lingmoor looking across to Coniston Fells

The Foundation for Common Land has been delighted to coordinate this campaign alongside many other farming and environmental organisations. We are also particularly appreciative of the many individuals who wrote to their MPs and we thank the many MPs and members of the House of Lords who raised this matter with Ministers. This has ensured the RPA has brought in this functionality significantly earlier than planned.

The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme remains closed to common land applications and the Foundation for Common Land continues to work to ensure equity of access to ELM for Commons alongside non-Common Land. It is hoped that the new functionality for Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme will be able to be applied to SFI applications in the future. SFI is an important option for Common Land that is not designated as sites of special scientific interest (SSSI).

Summary of the Position as at 29th June 2026 – Text written by the Foundation for Common Land and checked by the RPA

1.    The RPA’s new functionality will be rolled out in a phased manner in partnership with Natural England who are responsible for pre application advice for CSHT.

2.    Once a test batch of applications have been processed other commons will be invited to apply subject to all pre application surveys and consultations being completed.

3.    It is likely there will remain a gap between the expiry of an HLS agreement and the start of a new CSHT due to the controls in the computer system though RPA are working to minimise that gap.

4.    There remains no mechanism for Common Land and Shared Grazing to enter SFI26 and the RPA still has no plans to introduce the necessary functionality this year.

5.    The RPA and Defra are now meeting regularly with the Foundation for Common Land and other key farming stakeholders to ensure the process works for commoners and the managers of common land