Rural Payments and Services

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

The aim of this item is to upgrade an existing path for non-motorised public use, with a gravel-type core base and a whin-dust type surface, to provide a robust and comfortable path for a full range of user types.

Any land is eligible.

• scrape vegetation, soil etc to reach existing path surface, and place arisings to side
• lay Type 1 core base material – up to 100 millimetres depth – and compact / roll
• lay surfacing layer of whinstone or granite dust – 25 millimetres depth – and compact / roll
• 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 metres minimum to 2.5 metres 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 £6.20 per square metre.

The inspectors will check:

• vegetation has been scraped to expose existing path surface, and spoil placed to the side
• Type 1 core base material has been laid – up to 100 millimetres depth – and compacted / rolled
• surfacing layer of whinstone or granite dust has been laid – 25 millimetres depth – and compacted / rolled
• 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 metres minimum to 2.5 metres 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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