RP20: Relocation of sheep dips and pens
Source: gov.uk (2025-02-03)

Find out about eligibility and requirements for the relocation of sheep dips and pens item.

This item is part of Capital Grants 2025. You must read the Capital Grants 2025 guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-grants-2025) to understand the rules and how to apply. If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, you must read the CSHT applicant’s guide (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-csht) to understand the rules and how to apply.

How much you’ll be paid

£3,544.71 per unit.

How this item benefits the environment

Installing replacement sheep dips in a new location can help reduce the risk of water pollution. Pollution from sheep dips can cause damage to people and aquatic wildlife.

This item can help you protect, recover and improve biodiversity on your land.

Where you can use this item

You can only use this item with support from Catchment Sensitive Farming (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/catchment-sensitive-farming-reduce-agricultural-water-pollution) in areas targeted for the reduction of water pollution from agriculture.

Catchment Sensitive Farming provides advice where there are water quality or flood risk issues linked to farming.

You cannot use this item:
- to build new, permanent sheep dips and holding pens on a farm where there are no existing dipping facilities
- to replace existing equipment in the same location
Get permission to use this item

You should consult Natural England if you plan to install this item on a site of special scientific interest (SSSI).

You’ll need to get relevant advice, consents or permits from the Environment Agency (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-need-an-environmental-permit) before starting any work.

You must also contact your local planning authority to check if planning permission is needed.

What you must do to use this item

You must install:
- a new sheep dip bath and holding pens
- dip baths that are impermeable (do not allow water through them), have no drain outlet and comply with the Groundwater Protection Code (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sheep-dip-groundwater-protection-code)
You must install dip baths and drain pens at least:
- 10 metres (m) from watercourses including streams, ditches, land drains and wetlands
- 30m from watercourses that drain into protected conservation sites such as sites of special scientific interest (SSSIs)
- 50m from any spring, well or borehole
If there’s a risk of spillage draining to a watercourse, road or track, do not install the pens or dip baths:
- on a slope
- at the top of a slope
- on land which is under drained
Evidence you must keep

You must keep written support from your Catchment Sensitive Farming adviser and provide this with your application.

You must also keep photographs of the completed work and provide with your claim.

You must also keep and provide on request:
- any consents or permissions connected with the work
- receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is unavailable
- photographs of the existing site and dipping facilities before works start
Read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the Agreement holder’s guide: Capital Grants, Higher Tier capital grants and Protection and Infrastructure grants (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/agreement-holders-guide-capital-grants-higher-tier-capital-grants-and-protection-and-infrastructure-grants-2025) for more information.

If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the CSHT agreement holder’s guide (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/countryside-stewardship-higher-tier-csht).

Other items you can use with this item

You can use this item with these items:

RP22: Sheep dip drainage aprons and sumps (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/sheep-dip-drainage-aprons-and-sumps-rp22)

RP23: Installation of livestock drinking troughs (in draining pens for freshly dipped sheep) (https://www.gov.uk/countryside-stewardship-grants/installation-of-livestock-drinking-troughs-in-draining-pens-for-freshly-dipped-sheep-rp23)

Advice to help you use this item

The following advice may help you to use this item, but you do not have to follow it to get paid. It’s not part of this item’s requirements.

British Standards

Check to make sure the work meets relevant British Standards (https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/products-and-services/standards/).

How to get a permit to discharge sheep dip

You’ll need an environmental permit (https://www.gov.uk/environmental-permit-check-if-you-need-one) to discharge sheep dip to land. If you already have an environmental permit, you’ll need to vary it if the location of the discharge area changes.

Constructing dip baths

You should construct dip baths that:
- are circular or rectangular
- are impermeable
- are UV-resistant if they’re made of plastic
- have splash screens and lips to prevent splashing (if needed)
- do not accept drainage water from other yard areas, land or roofs, (except from drain pens)
Constructing drain pens

You should construct drain pens that:
- are large enough to hold sheep for at least 10 minutes after dipping
- have sealed floors and built-in slopes – this allows excess dip to drain back to the bath rather than soaking into the ground, soil or a surface water drain
- have concrete areas that are impermeable and with watertight sealed joints
- have a filter or trap to prevent dirt draining back into the bath
Avoid polluting the water supply

The back-siphoning (backflow) of dip during filling can lead to water pollution. Make sure the hose for filling the bath:
- is not submerged in the bath
- has a double check valve to prevent back-siphoning
- is not used for domestic water supply purposes
Protecting the historic environment

You should avoid using this item:
- close to a historic farmstead or listed building – you can get advice on listed building consent from your local authority
- on sites of archaeological or historic importance as identified in your Historic Environment Farm Environment Record (https://hefer-data.org.uk/) (HEFER) – you can get advice on scheduled monument consent from Historic England before using this item on such sites
You should also consider the character of the landscape when constructing new fencing lines. This particularly applies in designated landscapes or historic parkland.