Rural Payments and Services

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

Well-placed seats allow people to stop, rest and enjoy the view, and also provide resting places for elderly and disabled people dealing with gradients or difficult stretches.

A perch seat is a simple informal structure providing an individual leaning / semi-seated resting point by a path.

A bench seat provides a larger but still simple resting point.

Any land is eligible. The seats should be close to an upgraded or new path.

Perch seat:

• may be constructed from treated timber, recycled plastic or steel
• seat should be placed close to the path
• seat should be planed and round-edged, and free draining, with galvanised screws or bolts countersunk
• main leg(s) should be sturdy, minimum 100x100 millimetre section if timber, in holes backfilled with well-rammed earth and stones, plus concrete if required, and with larger rocks wedged at toe and heel of the upright to prevent movement
• height of the seat should be between 550 and 750 millimetres above a firm, level surface
• you must take and retain for inspection dated photographic evidence of the construction phase, to include the works below ground level

For example, see Countryside Access Design Guide sheet 7.2

Bench seat:

• bench seat without backrest, of treated timber, recycled plastic or steel
• seat should be placed close to the path
• seat should be planed and round-edged, and free draining, with galvanised screws or bolts countersunk
• legs should be sturdy, minimum 75x75 millimetre section if timber, in holes backfilled with well-rammed earth and stones, plus concrete if required
• height of the seat should be between 450 and 520 millimetres above a level and firm ground surface
• you must take and retain for inspection dated photographic evidence of the construction phase, to include the works below ground level

For example, see Countryside Access Design Guide sheet 7.3

You can claim:

• perch seat: £200 each
• bench seat: £350 each

The inspectors will check:

• the location and extent of the work

Perch seat:

• is constructed from treated timber, recycled plastic or steel, and is placed close to the path
• seat is planed and round-edged, and free draining, with galvanised screws or bolts countersunk
• main leg(s) is minimum 100x100 millimetre section if timber, in holes backfilled with well-rammed earth and stones, plus concrete if required, and with larger rocks wedged at toe and heel of the upright to prevent movement
• height of the seat is between 550 and 750 millimetres above a firm, level surface
• you have maintained a diary of photographic evidence of the construction phase, to include the works below ground level

Bench seat:

• a bench seat without backrest, of treated timber, recycled plastic or steel, placed close to the path
• seat is planed and round-edged, and free draining, with galvanised screws or bolts countersunk
• legs are minimum 75x75 millimetre section if timber, in holes backfilled with well-rammed earth and stones, plus concrete if required
• height of the seat is between 450 and 520 millimetres above a level and firm ground surface
• you have taken and retained for inspection dated photographic evidence of the construction phase, to include the works below ground level

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