Scotland: National Rural NetworkThe Scottish Government has announced the timetable for two further Rural Priorities Assessment Committee rounds in 2010. You can find out more in Remaining 2010 RPAC rounds announced.
Over a thousand projects were approved in the November 2009 assessment round. You can get more details here.
Community Services and Facilities is to stay under Rural Priorities for the time being instead of being transferred to LEADER. You can get more information here.
Rural Development Contracts - Rural Priorities (RDC - RP) is a competitive integrated funding mechanism which will deliver targeted environmental, social and economic benefits. It is part of the £1.6 billion Scotland Rural Development Programme which runs to 2013.
Rural Priorities is £500 million fund administered regionally, by 11 Regional Project Assessment Committees (RPACs) comprising staff from SGRPID, FCS, SNH, SEPA and Local Authorities. It contributes to the delivery of the Scottish Government's strategic objectives through regional priorities, agreed with stakeholders for each of the 11 regions. You can view the priorities for your region by clicking on the map here.
Applications to Rural Priorities must refer to regional priorities and from them 75 options are available covering a wide range of activities from manure/slurry storage to off-wintering of sheep and community services and facilities.
There are a wide range of potential applicants to Rural Priorities and although most are likely to be dependant on land, proposals can come from other sectors of the rural economy, or from rural community groups. Before you are able to apply online, you must obtain a Business Reference Number (BRN) by submitting a completed Land and Business Change form. Community groups can download Rural Direct Briefing 1: Getting a Business Reference Number to help fill in this form.
The scheme is competitive, and has a 2 stage, online only, applications process. The initial stage ends with the submission of a simple Statement of Intent (SOI). Feedback is based on an amber or red rating. In the second stage applicants can decide whether or not to prepare a detailed Proposal, plus an Outcome Plan setting out how they would contribute to one or more regional priorities.
Both stages will be supported by Case Officers who will advise on eligibility, regional priorities, budgetary positions and the need for consents/approvals. They will draw on advice from the relevant public bodies, as required.
Proposals will be accepted throughout the year, with periodic assessment rounds. See How it Works for further information.
The guidance on the Rural Priorities website offers potential applicants comprehensive assistance and information about the application process. However, before preparing your application you may find it useful to:
Updates are regularly made to the guidance published online for Rural Priorities and can be viewed at What's New.
A full archive of all SRDP news since January 2008 includes SRDP Newsletters, press announcements, timetables and key dates and general updates.
For rural community groups there are potential overlaps between Rural Priorities and LEADER funding. There are also regional variations in both Rural Priorities and LEADER which makes it impossible to make a precise delineation between them. However, a project cannot get funding from more than one SRDP funding stream at a time. You will need to decide which programme best fits your project and should seek guidance from Rural Priority Case Officers, Rural Direct and the LEADER Co-ordinators before submitting an application.
Find Useful Contacts
Find Events in Your Area
Browse our document library
