Rural Sustainable Drainage Systems – Swales

This is an old version of the page

Date published: 17 January, 2017

Date superseded: 24 November, 2017

For recent changes to this guidance, please see the bottom of the page.

The aim of this item is to improve water quality by creating a strategically placed swale to slow, treat and control run-off that currently discharges direct to a watercourse or freshwater drain and to direct flow to a point (e.g. a pond) where it can be safely discharged.

Any land is eligible, provided that it meets all of the requirements set out below.

Where a swale receives run-off from a steading, you must combine this option with at least one of the following associated capital items (except where the swale only accepts roof run-off or is located on an intensive pig or poultry unit):

You can check if this item is available on your holding here.

You must prepare a plan which must include a map of the relevant fields / steading identifying the location of the rural sustainable drainage system feature and the point to which it discharges.

For rural sustainable drainage system features receiving run-off from a steading, the plan must include a calculation of the size of the rural sustainable drainage system feature(s) based on the amount of run-off draining to it (treatment volume).

You must also produce a diffuse pollution steading assessment.

  • only run-off which does not fall within the definition of slurry may be conveyed to a swale *
  • run-off from pesticide handling or washdown areas must not be conveyed to a swale
  • where a rural sustainable drainage system pond or wetland is being used in conjunction with the swale, the pond or wetland must be located downstream of the swale

* Unless the run-off is being conveyed to a constructed farm wetland designed in accordance with the Constructed Farm Wetland Design Manual – Scottish Environment Protection Agency / Northern Ireland Environment Agency – 2008.

You can claim £21.75 per square metre (excluding fencing).

The inspectors will check:

  • the location and extent of the swale
  • that only run-off which does not fall within the definition of slurry is conveyed to a swale *
  • that run-off from pesticide handling or wash-down areas is not conveyed to a swale

* Unless the run-off is being conveyed to a constructed farm wetland designed in accordance with the Constructed Farm Wetland Design Manual – Scottish Environment Protection Agency / Northern Ireland Environment Agency – 2008.

Section Change
Eligibility Paragraph and list of associated capital items added.
Application requirements Paragraph added about features receiving run-off from a steading.
Requirements New bullet point added
Spatial targeting Updated targeting map added

Click 'Download this page' to create a printer-friendly version of this guidance that you can save or print out.