Rural Payments and Services

For recent changes to this guidance, please see the bottom of the page.

The aim of this item is to construct a path for non-motorised public use, with a gravel-type core base and a 'semi-bound' surface using recycled materials, such as old road surfaces, blaes, or crushed concrete, to provide a robust and hard-wearing path for a full range of user types.

Any land is eligible.

If ground is hard and well drained, construct standard 'full tray' path:

• dig out a rectangular section 'full tray' to at least 100 millimetres depth
• fill with Type 1 core base material – 100 millimetres depth and compact / roll
• add surfacing layer of recycled materials (e.g. Toptrec) – up to 100 millimetres depth
• roll together and flatten using specialist machinery to solidify and bind the surface

If ground is soft or poorly drained, construct a ‘half-tray’ with geotextile path:

• dig out at least 50 millimetres deep, and use arisings to build edging
• line with geotextile; also with geogrid if ground is very soft or wet
• fill with Type 1 core base material – 100 millimetres depth and compact / roll
• add surfacing layer of recycled materials (e.g. Toptrec) – up to 100 millimetres depth
• compact / roll together and flatten using specialist machinery to solidify and bind the surface

Other details:

• path width will normally be 1.8 metres
• depending on anticipated levels of user numbers and two-way traffic of mixed user types, narrower or greater widths may be acceptable as justified, within the range 1.2 metre minimum to 2.5 metre maximum width. Payment will be adjusted for width pro-rata on the square metre basis
• you must take and retain for inspection dated photographic evidence of the construction phase, to include the works below ground level, with a scale / ruler included to show depths of tray / base layer / surface layer at least every 100 metres

You can claim £28.15 per square metre.

The inspectors will check:

• the location and extent of the work

If ground is hard and well drained, that you have constructed a standard 'full tray' path:

• dug out a rectangular section 'full tray' to at least 100 millimetres depth
• filled with Type 1 core base material – 100 millimetres depth and compact / roll
• added surfacing layer of recycled materials (e.g. Toptrec) – up to 100 millimetres depth
• rolled together and flattened using specialist machinery to solidify and bind the surface

If ground is soft or poorly drained, that you have constructed a ‘half-tray’ with geotextile path:

• dug out at least 50 millimetres deep, and used arisings to build edging
• lined with geotextile; also with geogrid if ground is very soft or wet
• filled with Type 1 core base material – 100 millimetres depth and compact / roll
• added surfacing layer of recycled materials (e.g. Toptrec) – up to 100 millimetres depth
• compacted / rolled together and flattened using specialist machinery to solidify and bind the surface

Other details:

• path width will normally be 1.8 metres
• depending on anticipated levels of user numbers and two-way traffic of mixed user types, narrower or greater widths may be acceptable as justified, within the range 1.2 metre minimum to 2.5 metre maximum width. Payment will be adjusted for width pro-rata on the square metre basis
• you have taken and retained for inspection dated photographic evidence of the construction phase, to include the works below ground level, with a scale / ruler included to show depths of tray / base layer / surface layer at least every 100 metres

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