General Q&A for FEP Process Changes
Pre-FEP PROCESS
Q. When does the new process start?
A. Potential HLS applicants making an enquiry after 31 March 2007 will need to go through the pre-FEP consultation process.
Q. What is the pre-FEP process?
A. The pre-FEP process is to assess before a FEP is commissioned whether or not the farm has enough environmental features in order to have the potential to qualify for an HLS agreement.
Q. What are the benefits of this process?
A. The benefits is that it prevents farmers spending money on a FEP that is unlikely to lead to an HLS agreement being granted. Experience has shown that the payments by Natural England for a FEP typically only cover 50-80% of the actual cost. From 1 April FEP's which do not lead to a HLS agreement will not be paid for by Natural England. The only exception would be if a farmer had been advised to complete a FEP following a pre-FEP consultation.
The process also allows Natural England's resources to be targeted at processing agreements for those holdings which provide the most environmental benefit according to the Joint Character Areas. Each area has a different set of priority targets.
Q. How long will the pre-FEP process take?
A. The time taken to do a pre-FEP assessment will vary according to the size and complexity of your holding.
Applying For HLS And The Pre-FEP Process
Q. How do I apply for HLS?
A. You must contact Natural England and request an application pack. The application pack will consist of a set of maps, a personalised FEP form and the HLS and FEP guidance handbooks. It will also include details of the pre-FEP consultation process.
Q. What do I have to do next?
A. If once you have read the guidance you still wish to proceed with a HLS application you must ring your local Natural England office and request a pre-FEP consultation. An adviser will then contact you within 10 days.
Q. Does my land need to be RLR registered before I can have a consultation?
A. Not all your land needs to be registered at the time of the consultation but the majority does so that the Natural England advisers can advise on the environmental features over the whole holding. However, all your land must be registered before a HLS application can be finalised.
Q. Do I need to contact the Local Authority Historic Environment Record (HER) for a HER consultation before I have a pre-fep consultation?
A. No. Natural England will make some enquiries to find out what historic environment features are on your land. A full HER consultation will still be needed as part of the FEP if it is decided to proceed with the application, as this provides advice on management that is not covered by the pre-fep consultation.
Q. What does the pre-FEP consultation entail?
A. The pre-FEP process will begin with the adviser looking at the environmental features on your farm which he will find out about by looking at sources of information such as SSSI maps, HER records, Scheduled monuments records etc. The adviser will then contact you by phone to discuss the features found, your current farming practices and possible management options. If required a visit will be arranged to discuss these issues further in order to seek more clarity around some or all of the features being discussed.
Q. If you visit - how long will it take?
A. This will depend on the size and nature of the holding.
Q. Can my agent be present on the visit?
A. Yes, BUT you must remember Natural England will not pay for any costs incurred by you in engaging your agent in the pre-FEP visit.
Q. How will you decide whether there is potential for HLS or not - will you use a formal scoring process?
A. There will not be a formal scoring process but the adviser will use their knowledge in judging the scores likely to be reached by including the environmental features found against the targeting statements for the area concerned.
Q. What will you advise if my holding is a borderline case for HLS?
A. The Natural England adviser will aim to give you an honest assessment of your holdings potential based on known facts. If the holding appears to be borderline but there is a possibility that an application may be successful then you will advised to consider submitting a FEP and HLS application. However the standard of applications submitted in each application round does vary and therefore it is impossible (at this pre-FEP stage) to give firm indication of how any potential HLS application may score and the likelihood of success. It will be for you to make a judgement as to whether to proceed on the understanding that the FEP will be paid for as set out in the FEP Handbook, but that the HLS may be unsuccessful.
If, on balance, the advisor feels it is unlikely that a HLS application would be successful, then you will be advised against submitting a FEP and HLS. It will then be for you to make a judgement as to whether to proceed, in the knowledge that if the HLS application does not succeed you would not be eligible for the FEP payment.
Q. What happens after the consultation?
A. You will receive a letter outlining the outcome of the consultation. This letter will advise as to whether or not you should consider obtaining a FEP and making an application for HLS. Even if the letter is positive you should remember that due to the selective nature of the scheme there is no guarantee that an agreement will be granted
Q. What should I do if I am unhappy with the outcome of the consultation?
A. You still have the option to go ahead and make an application after obtaining a FEP and if it is successful then the payment for the FEP will be met. You may also ring Natural England and ask to speak to the adviser who assessed your case.
Q. If I have a pre FEP consultation and go on to submit an HLS, then do I still need to do a FEP?
A. Yes.
Q. Will the advisor still need to do a FEP QC / Application visit?
A. If a visit was not part of the consultation process then yes. Also once the FEP has been completed there may be parts that the adviser would wish to discuss on site.
FEP Payments
Q. Will you pay for the FEP if I proceed with an HLS application despite being advised not to?
A. Not unless the HLS application is successful.
Q. Will you pay for the FEP if I submit a HLS application & FEP without undergoing a consultation?
A. Not unless the HLS application is successful.
Q. My agent started / completed my FEP before I received the mailshot / addendum - will you still pay for the FEP if it submitted after 1 April (and if HLS is unsuccessful)?
A. There will be a short period where payments may be made if the FEP survey was undertaken before 1 April 2007.
Page last modified:
1 April, 2007
Page published: 3 March, 2005