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.
7 Likes
12 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
Comment by Debbie White posted on
I thought the Capital Grants open on 30th July? It would have been nice to have some time to digest and understand what was said at the webinar before the day they launch. I have never applied for them before and know the funding goes very quickly so yet again, like SFI feel under huge pressure to try and apply before the funding runs out. It doesn't encourage or help new people/small farms at all but is set up for people that have done it before or can afford an expensive land agent.
Why can't you run the webinar or release more information about the Grants and the application process before the launch day so we can read about it and be prepared rather than it all being kept til the day? The funding went so fast last time it makes it impossible for new people just keeps rewarding the huge farms that have done it all before.
Comment by Sarah Stewart posted on
Hi Debbie,
Thanks for getting in touch.
To help applicants prepare, we:
- shared some early information about Capital Grants in March (https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2026/03/19/the-2026-capital-grants-offer)
- published the Capital Grants 2026 applicant guidance in May (Capital Grants 2026: guidance now available)
- published a further blog post in early July encouraging applicants to prepare their supporting evidence in advance of the offer opening (https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2026/07/01/capital-grants-get-your-supporting-evidence-ready/
The offer opened on 30 July at 12:33pm. We had hoped to hold the webinar before the offer opened, but unfortunately that wasn't possible and we had to hold it on the same day.
The webinar was intended as an overview of the scheme and an opportunity for attendees to ask questions, rather than to introduce anything new. Everything covered had already been set out in the published guidance.
I do understand your concerns about the timing, particularly for a popular offer such as this. My team and I will take your feedback into account as we plan future communications and events.
Best wishes,
Sarah
Comment by Debbie White posted on
But none of the guidance tells you how to actually apply or what evidence must be submitted with your application. I managed to do an application on Thursday but it asked me to submit my map showing the items within 10 day but doesn't tell me where or how? I phoned on Thursday at 2.23pm and the message only gave me the option to select a ring back which I did. I am still waiting for a call back 4 days later. All the funding has almost gone so the helpline is pointless for new people like me as you can't speak to anyone before the funding has gone. How do I find out where to send the map before the 10 day deadline expires??
Comment by Sarah Stewart posted on
Hi Debbie,
Thank you for getting in touch.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-grants-2026/applicants-guide-capital-grants-2026
Section 4 of the applicant's guide, linked above, sets out the supporting evidence you might need (it's also in the Capital Grant Finder tool). Section 5 explains that to apply, you should begin in the Rural Payments service. If you scroll right to the bottom of the page to Annex 4, you'll see details of organisations you may need to contact.
Supporting evidence, including maps, can be sent directly to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) within the required 10 working days of submitting your application.
You can send your evidence by email: ruralpayments@defra.gov.uk
Make the subject line: Capital Grants then your SBI number
Or you can do it by post:
Rural Payments Agency
PO Box 324
Worksop
S95 1DF
If sending by post, it is a good idea to obtain proof of posting.
I'm sorry you haven't found the process to apply straightforward. I've shared your comment with the RPA and with the Defra team working on Capital Grants (both the policy and the content).
Best wishes,
Sarah
Comment by David Morley posted on
So, the Scheme is opening on 30th July and you are holding the webinar to help us prepare on.... 30th July? Not giving us a lot of time to prepare!!
Comment by The Team posted on
Hi David,
Ahead of the offer opening, we shared information about Capital Grants in March, published the applicant guidance in May, and issued a further blog post at the start of July encouraging applicants to prepare their supporting evidence in advance.
The webinar was intended as an overview of the scheme and an opportunity for attendees to ask questions. It did not introduce anything that isn't in the published guidance.
Best wishes,
The Team