Rural Payments and Services

A new fund for improving public access opens for applications on 17 August, as part of the Agri-Environment Climate scheme of the Scottish Rural Development Programme.

The Improving Public Access (IPA) option aims to support new and upgraded paths for public use, to encourage active outdoor activity by the public for health and enjoyment. It is open to a range of public bodies, organisations, farmers and other land managers, and is available across all areas of rural Scotland. It provides for the capital costs of installing paths, together with related items like drainage, self-closing gates, signposts, bridges and boardwalks where justified, as listed in the scheme details

Projects will be assessed for their benefits in developing connectivity and linkage in path networks, providing a good basic standard of construction, and in removing obstacles to make access more easily available to the public.

AECS applications for the IPA option will open to applicants from 17 August, and close on 31 October 2015.

Applicants must be registered in order to apply. Approved projects will commence and claim in 2016. Further application rounds will open in subsequent years.

All the details on the scheme and how to apply are provided on Rural Payments and Services, with Supporting Guidance and ‘How to Apply’ information.

AECS - How to apply