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Scotland Rural Development Programme

The Scotland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (SRDP) is the programme of funding for rural areas in Scotland. With a £1.6 billion budget, it includes environmental, economic and social measures and runs over a seven year period.  Its aims are to increase competitiveness in agriculture and forestry, improve the environment and the countryside and enhance the quality of life in rural areas.

Land managers, individuals and groups can apply for grants offered by the different schemes included in the programme:

  • Rural Development Contracts - Land Managers Options
  • Rural Development Contracts - Rural Priorities
  • Less Favoured Area Support Scheme
  • Crofting Counties Agricultural Grant Scheme
  • Food Processing, Marketing and Co-operation Grant Scheme
  • Forestry Commission Challenge Funds
  • The LEADER initiative
  • Skills Development Scheme

A key objective of the programme is to deliver natural heritage benefits including biodiversity, landscape, climate change, water and soil quality, and public access.

The SRDP is delivered by the Scottish Government in partnership with other public bodies. More information on the SRDP as a whole may be found on Scottish Government's SRDP webpage external site .

Rural Priorities

This competitively-run scheme plays a key role in achieving the objectives of the Scotland Rural Development Programme.  It is delivered jointly by Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Government Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate, and Forestry Commission Scotland through staff working at Area offices. Its key outcomes are to contribute to:

  • improved business viability and competitiveness
  • improved water quality
  • adaptation to, and mitigation of, climate change
  • protection and enhancement of biodiversity and landscapes
  • sustainable rural communities

For more detailed information see the page on Rural development contracts - Rural priorities.