Rural Payments and Services

Given the recent unexpected RP&S downtime, the decision has been made to extend the AECS application window deadline from Friday, 12 April 2019 to Wednesday, 17 April 2019.

Supporting documentation must also be submitted by this date.

This same extended deadline of 17 April also applies to slurry storage applications applied for alongside agri-environment options. For standalone slurry store applications, the deadline remains Wednesday, 26 June.

For applications which are part of a collaborative project, the closing date remains Friday, 31 May 2019 provided they meet the below requirements.

The collaborative project must:

• comply with the collaborative approach guidance as part of the AECS application process. Particular attention is drawn to the requirement to demonstrate there will be greater environmental benefit than would be achieved if the individual applicants acted independently
• include five or more participants who are applying for funding from AECS in 2019

If you are uncertain about meeting these criteria, you are strongly advised to use the revised Wednesday, 17 April 2019 deadline.