We have had a number of reports from members about delays in receiving HLS application packs for those wishing to incorporate Uplands ELS.
Given the tight deadline on submissions for a July 1 start date, the hold-ups were unacceptable and the NFU raised the problem as a matter of urgency with Natural England, the RPA and Defra. We’re pleased to say that we have hopefully resolved this particular issue.
The range and scale of the problem was national, affecting approximately 350 farmers wanting to amend their HLS agreements to incorporate the new Uplands strands of ELS from July 1 2010. The cause appears to have been the amendment form, which wasn’t calculating the points correctly to incorporate the Uplands elements. We’ve been assured that this is now fixed - and we’ve secured an extension for those who applied for a pack before the 15 March.
Because of the delays at Natural England, such applicants now have until 15 June (and not May 1) to make their submission for a guaranteed 1 July start date.
This extension only applies to those who applied for a pack before the 15 March and to those wanting to incorporate Uplands ELS into an HLS agreement. Everyone else wanting to enter UELS by July 1 should get their applications back to Natural England by 1st May.
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