The Farm and Horticulture Development (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1984

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These regulations amend the Farm and Horticulture Development Regulations 1981, as amended (“the principal regulations”) (implementing Council Directive No. 72/159/EEC ((OJ/SE 1972 (II) p.324)) on the modernisation of farms and Council Directive No. 75/268/EEC on mountain and hill farming and farming in certain less-favoured areas).

In relation to any work, facility or transaction included in an application for a variation of an approved development plan received on or after 12th December 1984 and to claims for grant towards expenditure incurred on or after that date the regulations—

(a) reduce the rates of grant in relation to the provision, replacement or improvement of field drainage (regulations 2 and 5(b));

(b) introduce revised descriptions in respect of paragraph 1(ii) (main framework of bulk dry stores or silos), paragraphs 12(i) and 12(ii) (hedges, walls, dykes and gates) and paragraphs 14(i), 14(ii), 14(iii) and 14(iv) (grassland) of Schedule 2 to the principal regulations (regulations 2, 5(a), 5(d), and 5(e)).

In Great Britain grant is no longer available in relation to the clearance and reclamation of land, but in Northern Ireland grant is available for reclamation of land and the removal of other obstructions to cultivation.

The regulations also insert a footnote into Schedule 2 to the principal regulations to make it clear that the higher rate of grant in respect of roads, paths and other permanent ways, hard standings, fords, bridges, culverts, railway crossings, creeps, piers, jetties or slips is available only to agricultural businesses situated on severely disadvantaged land (regulation 5(c)).