With Entry Level Schemes now in place for many landowners across the country now is a good time to look at the Higher Level Scheme (HLS) says David Canty Farm Business Consultant of Strutt & Parker. HLS offers direct payments for a wide range of land management options, including more complex and expensive options such as the restoration of traditional farm buildings.

HLS is targeted at preserving historic and environmental features, protecting Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species where they are present and recreating traditional landscapes. The scheme is not suited to all sites. In some cases suitable features may have been used to accrue points to meet ELS requirements and are therefore not eligible for HLS. However, some sites which may not on the surface meet the entry requirements may still be ideally suited to HLS.

The uptake of HLS agreements has not been as high as originally hoped for, due to a number of reasons, including mapping problems. As a result the Rural Development Service (RDS) are keen to expand the number of acres registered within HLS agreements. Consequently the support being offered by RDS personnel is high, which is helping to overcome some of the complexities of the scheme.

Mr Canty, Farm Business Consultant of Strutt & Parker says ‘The choice of options is imperative to the success of the scheme both environmentally and financially – each farming business is unique by nature and therefore will need a bespoke solution. Combining the landowners knowledge of the land with the aid of more in-depth reports regarding archaeology and biodiversity is essential to a successful application”