The 2026 Capital Grants is now open.
To help you prepare, we hosted a webinar on 30 July for you to find out more.
During the session you hear from Defra and colleagues from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) and Catchment Sensitive Farming (CSF).
We explain which grant items may need CSF advice before you apply, and RPA colleagues talk through the application and claims process.
We finished with a Q&A session, where attendees could ask questions and get answers from the team.
For more information do read my previous posts on Capital Grants and the Capital Grants 2026 guidance on GOV.UK.
This new round will make £225 million available which is 50% more than in 2025.
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6 comments
Comment by RS posted on
This was due to open at 12.30. But there is no mention of capital grants on my RPA page....am I looking in the wrong place or has it been delayed please
Comment by Sarah Stewart posted on
Hello,
It's very much open!
To apply, sign into the Rural Payments service and select ‘View business’. From the ‘Business overview’ screen, select ‘Countryside Stewardship applications’.
Use the Countryside Stewardship application screens to apply online for Capital Grants.
The ‘Help’ link in the Rural Payments service tells you what to do on each screen.
If you cannot see the ‘Countryside Stewardship applications’ link, check that you have the correct permission level to create an application. If you still cannot see the link after your permission level updates in the Rural Payments service, ‘sign out’ then ‘sign in’ again to refresh your account.
You can create and submit only one Capital Grants application in a calendar year. If you want to make changes to an application you’ve already submitted, you must first delete or withdraw the previous application. If you don’t do this, RPA can only accept the first submitted application.
When adding land parcels to your application, if a land parcel is missing from the list, you may need to register land and update digital maps.
You must also create a map or maps to support your application. Read Annex 3 – Supporting maps.
If you are unable to apply online, call the RPA on 03000 200 301 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm, except bank holidays).
This is taken from section 5.1.3 of the guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-grants-2026/applicants-guide-capital-grants-2026#how-to-apply
Best wishes,
Sarah
Comment by P Rollason posted on
Showing webinar on date Capital Grant opens leaves no time to prepare submission , this is stupid
Comment by The Team posted on
Hello,
Thanks for your feedback.
We appreciate that timing is important. We shared some early information about Capital Grants in March, then blogged again in May when the Capital Grants 2026 applicant guidance was published. We also published a further post at the very start of July specifically encouraging applicants to get their supporting evidence ready in advance.
The webinar today was primarily an overview of the scheme and an opportunity for attendees to ask questions. It did not introduce any new requirements beyond those already set out in the published guidance.
Coordinating a webinar with multiple speakers can be challenging, but we'll take your comment on board and will continue to look at how we can schedule future events in a way that works for as many people as possible.
Best wishes,
The Team
Comment by James posted on
Will the application window open before or after this webinar?
Comment by Sarah Stewart posted on
Hi James,
It opened shortly after the webinar ended.
Best wishes,
Sarah