Rural Payments and Services

The aim of this item is to support new and upgraded paths for public use, providing:

• improved links and connectivity
• improved path conditions
• barrier-free access for all

These new and improved paths – core paths, links to core paths, and paths connecting to wider local networks and longer paths – will encourage responsible public outdoor access for the full range of users, and help to integrate access and recreational use with good land management.

This will generate wide benefits

• health improvement and increased physical activity
• a sustainable resource for nearby communities, visitors and enterprises
• in fostering broad social and economic opportunities through enhanced outdoor access and recreation

This item is open to local authorities and administrations, public bodies, public-private partnerships, NGOs, private companies, organisations in charge of tourist and recreational development, as well as individual farmers, groups of farmers and other land managers.

This item is available across all rural areas of Scotland, which is defined as land other than settlements with a population of over 3000.

As part of the application you must prepare and include a map showing the relevant access context (existing core paths, other local paths, key access / arrival points, any long-distance paths, key features of interest, etc) both within the application unit and in the relevant surrounding areas.

The map must also show the locations of all the proposed access works. Note that as part of the application assessment process, this map will be copied to your local authority or national park authority access staff for information / verification.

You will be asked to describe and explain the benefits to connectivity and local objectives arising from your proposal, and how it will add value for the locality.

Connectivity

You must establish a new path, or carry out improvements to an existing path, in one of the following categories:

• a core path or a link to a core path, or
• a path providing access to a feature of interest (e.g. viewpoint, loch, riverside, cultural / historic feature etc), or
• a path which links to other paths at the boundaries of your land, to form effective and convenient parts of wider local path networks or of a long distance path

Barrier free

As far as practicably possible, the new or upgraded paths should be suitable for use by walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and wheelchairs / mobility scooters. They should provide gentle gradients (up to 1:12) in place of steps (e.g. on bridge approaches), and self-closing gates (not stiles or kissing gates) for accommodating this range of users and to be DDA / Equality Act compliant.

Technical specification

You must ensure the new or upgraded path is:

• well-drained
• surfaced either with an unbound and rolled surface (e.g. whindust, granite dust) or with a semi-bound / semi-sealed surface (e.g. Ultratrec); fully-bound or sealed surfaces (e.g. tarmac, concrete) are not eligible
• normally to be constructed at a standard 1.8 metre width; exceptionally, path widths may be applied for within a range from 1.2 to 2.5 metres if they can be satisfactorily justified by explicit reasons (e.g. a wider path justified by predicted heavier volume of use on a particular stretch)
• signposted
• not for motorised use; use as a vehicular, tractor or farm track is not eligible; note that the path construction specifications are not suitable to support vehicular use

You can claim the standard capital cost per unit for approved items, as stated in outline in the table below (with links to a detailed specification where relevant). These costs include labour (direct or contract) and materials.

Table of standard costs (with outline specification)

	Capital item	Outline specification (click on the name of each item to see the full specification)	Standard cost per unit for labour and materials
	Public path infrastructure
1	New path – unbound surface	For the construction of a new path with unbound rolled surface (whinstone / granite dust), with full tray excavation, or half tray and geotextile.	£18.20 / square metre
2	New path – semi-bound surface	For the construction of a new path with semi-bound or semi-sealed surface, of recycled semi-binding materials (e.g. Ultratrec or equivalent), with full tray excavation or half tray and geotextile.	£28.15 / square metre
3	Upgrade to an existing path	For the scraping of an existing constructed footpath and re-construction of a fresh sub-base, with path surfacing of rolled whinstone / granite dust.	£6.20 / square metre
4	Self-closing two-way opening gate	To install a two-way opening, self-closing gate (galvanised steel or timber) of 1.5 metres width. A gate also performs as a vehicle barrier.	£440 / gate
5	Self-closing, one-way opening gate	For installing a one-way opening, self-closing gate (galvanised steel or timber) of 1.5 metres width. A gate also performs as a vehicle barrier.	£350 / gate
6	Path bridge	To provide a path bridge, in accordance with the 'Path Bridges’ guide.	£1,100 / square metre of clear user deck
7	Gabion basket retaining wall for path	Construction of metal mesh stone-filled gabion baskets to create revetments for the purpose of stabilising new or upgraded paths.	£100 / cubic metre
8	Boardwalk	For a wooden or recycled plastic boardwalk with edge rails, giving a clear user width of at least 1.2 metres.	£91 / square metre of clear user deck
9	Timber board and aggregate steps	For the installation of steps, only in exceptional situations where the terrain naturally restricts access, and a ramped path cannot reasonably be provided without exceeding ramp gradient limits of 1:12.	£150 / metre
10	Drainage ditch	For drainage in conjunction with the path construction or upgrading, as an open machine-dug V or U ditch, 200 to 300 millimetres deep with stable angled sides.	£1.88 / metre
11	Piped culvert (300 millimetre pipe)	For a 300 millimetre twin-wall plastic culvert pipe with built stone headwalls that is required in conjunction with the path construction or upgrading.	£143 / each
12	Piped culvert (450 millimetre pipe)	For a 450 millimetre twin-wall plastic culvert pipe with built stone headwalls that is required in conjunction with the path construction or upgrading.	£395 / each
	Seats and signs
13	Perch seat	For a timber perch seat alongside a new or upgraded path.	£200 / each
14	Timber bench	For a bench without a backrest on a level and surfaced area close to a new or upgraded path.	£350 / each
15	Timber picnic table	For a wooden picnic table with easy-access bench seats without backrests, on a level and surfaced area close to a new or upgraded path.	£700 / each
16	Fingerpost	For a finger post to indicate the path direction / destination / distance, with hollow steel post and aluminium finger blades.	£150 / each
17	Waymarker post	For a treated and routed timber waymarker post, including disc / arrow as needed.	£29 / each
18	A3 on-site information panel	For a laminated A3 panel sign mounted on wooden post(s), to provide path grading and route information to national standard.	£262 / each
19	Entrance sign	For a timber roadside entrance sign, with painted background and routed and painted lettering.	£270 / each
20	Stock fence / stock gate	For a stock fence alongside a new or upgraded path, with a minimum of six line wires or two line wires with woven wire netting, and any barbed or electrified wire on the stock side protected by a plain wire on the path side. The stock fence may include stock gates three metres wide where justified, but only if alongside (i.e. not across) the new or upgraded path.	£5.50 / metre
	Tree safety
21	Make safe hazardous mature trees	For the labour and machinery required for the removal of trees, deadwood and other dangerous tree features identified in the tree safety survey as posing a significant risk to users of the new or upgraded path.	£113 / tree
22	Manual brashing	For the works required to remove the lower branches of trees in areas of high use along both sides of new or upgraded paths.	£1.09 / metre

Table of standard costs (with outline specification)

Section	Change	Previous text	New text
Eligible applicants	Change of section name	Eligibility	Eligible applicants
Requirements: Barrier free	Amendments to guidance.	The new or upgraded paths, as far as practicably possible, should provide ramps in place of steps (e.g. on bridge approaches), and self-closing gates (not stiles or kissing gates) for DDA / Equality Act compliance, thus being suitable for use by walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and wheelchairs / mobility scooters, and not for motorised use.	As far as practicably possible, the new or upgraded paths should be suitable for use by walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and wheelchairs / mobility scooters. They should provide gentle gradients (up to 1:12) in place of steps (e.g. on bridge approaches), and self-closing gates (not stiles or kissing gates) for accommodating this range of users and to be DDA / Equality Act compliant.
Requirements: Technical specification	Amendments to guidance.	• well-drained • surfaced with whindust / granite dust or a semi-bound (e.g. Toptrec) surface • normally 1.8 metres in width, but path width may be varied within a range from 1.2 to 2.5 metres if that is justified by the anticipated volume of use • signposted • where bridges and boardwalks are established, these must be of sufficient width as in the technical specification to be DDA / Equality Act compliant • not for motorised use; tarmac surfacing is also ineligible	• well-drained • surfaced either with an unbound and rolled surface (e.g. whindust, granite dust) or with a semi-bound / semi-sealed surface (e.g. Ultratrec); fully-bound or sealed surfaces (e.g. tarmac, concrete) are not eligible • normally to be constructed at a standard 1.8 metre width; exceptionally, path widths may be applied for within a range from 1.2 to 2.5 metres if they can be satisfactorily justified by explicit reasons (e.g. a wider path justified by predicted heavier volume of use on a particular stretch) • signposted • not for motorised use; use as a vehicular, tractor or farm track is not eligible; note that the path construction specifications are not suitable to support vehicular use
Table of standard costs	Change to item 1: New path – unbound surface	For the construction of a new path with unbound surface (whinstone / granite dust) path, with full tray excavation, or half tray and geotextile.	For the construction of a new path with unbound rolled surface (whinstone / granite dust), with full tray excavation, or half tray and geotextile.
	Change to item 2: New path – semi-bound surface	For the construction of a new path with semibound surface, of recycled semi-binding materials, with full tray excavation or half tray and geotextile.	For the construction of a new path with semi-bound or semi-sealed surface, of recycled semi-binding materials (e.g. Ultratrec or equivalent), with full tray excavation or half tray and geotextile.
	Change to item 3: Upgrade to an existing path	For the scraping of an existing footpath and construction of a fresh sub-base, and path surfacing of whinstone / granite dust.	For the scraping of an existing constructed footpath and re-construction of a fresh sub-base, with path surfacing of rolled whinstone / granite dust.
	Change to item 20: Stock fencing	For fencing associated with the new or upgraded path, with posts set no more than 3.5 metres apart, minimum of six line wires or two line wires with woven wire netting, and any barbed or electrified wire on the field side protected by a plain wire on the path side.	For a stock fence alongside a new or upgraded path, with a minimum of six line wires or two line wires with woven wire netting, and any barbed or electrified wire on the stock side protected by a plain wire on the path side. The stock fence may include stock gates three metres wide where justified, but only if alongside (i.e. not across) the new or upgraded path.
	Item 21 deleted: Tree safety survey	For the works required to undertake a survey and report on high risk trees or woodland affecting the new or upgraded paths, especially those that will experience high visitor numbers. £33 / hectare	-

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