Case Study: Grant Funded Slurry Storage Project
September 2026
By Annie Haxforth MRICS, FAAV, Rural Surveyor
We were asked to advise a farmer on a major investment in new slurry infrastructure.
The aim of the project was to improve slurry storage facilities at a dairy farm to ensure compliance with the Water Resources (Control of Pollution) (Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil) (England) Regulations 2010, commonly known as the SSAFO Regulations, and The Reduction and Prevention of Agricultural Diffuse Pollution (England) Regulations 2018, commonly known as the Farming Rules for Water.
The holding is occupied under an Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 tenancy, so the project also required careful engagement with the landlord alongside the planning and grant funding processes.
Our instructions
Securing planning consent
We coordinated the planning application for the new slurry store, presenting the functional need for the development and the suitability of its location and design in line with local and national planning policy.Full planning consent was required due to the location and scale of the store, and we liaised closely with the construction contractors to ensure the application was consistent with the proposed development.
By obtaining planning consent at the outset, we established a sound basis for the grant funding application and tenancy discussions.
Obtaining grant funding
We also guided our client through the Slurry Infrastructure grant process. The successful package included funding towards the slurry store with a roof, a new reception pit and a range of associated accessories required for an effective slurry system at the holding.We worked closely with our client and the construction company to address all the requirements of the grant, together with any enquiries from the Environment Agency and Rural Payments Agency, to produce a project that fitted both our client’s needs and the conditions of the grant.
This scheme was open for two rounds and has now closed indefinitely, with Defra restructuring its funding into smaller schemes to assist more farmers and landowners, including Capital Grants and the Farming Equipment and Technology Fund. This demonstrates the importance of forward planning to take advantage of funding opportunities.
Protecting the tenant’s position
Alongside the planning and grant funding work, we opened negotiations with the landlord to protect our client’s position when the tenancy comes to an end and to allow for the assessment of compensation.These discussions covered consent to the scheme and the planning application, together with the formal recording of the development as a tenant’s improvement.
Addressing these matters before construction helped provide clarity over responsibility and the parties’ respective interests in the new infrastructure.
Why this project matters
This project demonstrates the importance of treating planning, funding and tenancy matters as interdependent rather than separate exercises. Early coordination reduced the risk of one approval undermining another and gave both landlord and tenant a clear view of the investment and future direction of the holding.
The result was a practical infrastructure investment designed to strengthen slurry management, support regulatory compliance and improve the resilience of the farming business.
How Greenslade Taylor Hunt can help
Greenslade Taylor Hunt can support farmers, tenants and landowners through every stage of their journey. Our rural professional team can help identify the right route forward, coordinate the technical and logistical requirements, and ensure that investment in farm infrastructure is properly structured and recorded.
Whether you are considering new facilities, upgrading existing facilities or looking to make the most of available funding or planning opportunities, early advice can help reduce risk, protect your position and move the project forward with confidence.
GTH’s rural team across the West Country are ready to answer any questions and help you navigate these grants and subsidies, offering expertise, strategic insight, and providing practical support. For more information, get in touch with your local rural office or email [email protected].