Peatland ACTION - Processing and assessing applications

NatureScot Peatland ACTION - Criteria for assessing applications for 2024/25

Includes consideration of value for money, the opportunity for attracting other sources of finance, and the level of risk attached to project delivery within specified timescales.

Assessment of value for money and scale

Assessments of risks

• the application deadline for reworked and new projects planned for 2025/26 will be 30 April 2025;
• all applications will need to be fully tendered by the application deadline;
• criteria for assessment will remain the same as in 2024/25;
• applicants/agents will be required to take on responsibility for project pre-planning and delivery surveys (including species surveys) – with funding support from Peatland ACTION.

Further details to follow.

PCS portal - the portal has a range of information and support guides as well as a dedicated Customer Service Team that can be contacted by email or telephone. The details are available at Public Contracts Scotland. 

Important: To use the PCS portal, you will first need to register free as a ‘buyer’ via the PCS portal: Public Contracts Scotland - Register as a buyer. If you have any difficulty registering as a non-public body, you should email the PCS Customer Services Team confirming you are applying to Peatland ACTION, funded by Scottish Government, and are required to use the portal.

General questions 

Q Why has NatureScot Peatland ACTION moved to this process. Will this impact applications through LLTNPA/CNPA?
A:  NatureScot’s Peatland ACTION programme is now receiving a very high level of demand for the funding of peatland restoration projects. It is important that we provide those applying with an opportunity to compete for these funds. It is also our duty to ensure the best use of the public funding that is available. In response, we are now using this process in order to:

-    provide opportunities for all applicants. 
-    maximise the benefit that we get from our funding investment.
-    minimise the amount of risk attached to funded projects.
-    fund projects that best help us reach our targets. 

Potential and current applicants within the National Park boundaries should refer to the most recent guidance provided by Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority and Cairngorm National Park Authority as appropriate to their location. 

Q: Will this impact Peatland ACTION annual or overall targets?
A:   No – we will continue to work with land managers to develop a pipeline of projects for future years and will continue to seek new and innovative solutions to continue delivering peatland restoration at scale and at pace.

Questions about application processes

Q: Will Peatland ACTION still be accepting applications?
A: Prior to the 2024-25 financial year Peatland ACTION applications had been accepted at any time of year and considered on a rolling basis. Now there are key dates where applications will be considered so applicants will need to ensure completed paperwork is submitted to Peatland ACTION in time. Any future deadlines will be publicised and discussed with any interested parties when they first enquire about a peatland restoration project. Applicants should consider how their proposed project meets the criteria for funding and prepare any required evidence and materials ahead of the next deadline. 

Q: What will the criteria be for choosing which projects to fund? Size of project; severity of damage; value for money; location; time frame; quality of application?
A: The criteria for assessing application in financial year 2025-2026 include consideration of value for money; the opportunity for attracting other sources of finance; and the level of risk attached to project delivery within specified timescales. The full detail can be found online. 

Please ensure applications are completed with all the questions fully and clearly answered. With such a significant demand your application will be assessed on the information provided as we will be unable to make requests for missing information.

Q: How will multi-year projects be compared to single year projects?
A: All projects will be considered based on the total area size and total project cost. Multi-year projects will be based on the whole project area for the entire project length, even if this is spread out over multiple years. 

Q: Will there be a consideration of scoring projects based on geographical spread?
A: All projects will be scored equally and no distinction will be made based on geographical spread.

Q: Will applicants get feedback on why the application has been unsuccessful?
A: Yes. Peatland ACTION will provide feedback to unsuccessful applications to allow the application to be refined/revised as appropriate and, if required, resubmitted in a subsequent year.

Q: What happens if my project is not awarded funding?
A: We recognise the amount of preparation work required to bring projects to the application stage and we want to support these if funding becomes available.  Projects that meet the assessment guidelines but are not successful in this round of funding will be put on a reserve list. We will endeavour to identify funding so that projects in reserve can progress in future.  

Q: Will there be an appeal process?
A: There will not be an appeal process. Peatland ACTION will provide feedback to unsuccessful applicants to allow the application to be refined/revised as appropriate and, if required, resubmitted in a subsequent year.

Questions on funds / finance / costs

Q: What is meant by blended / private finance? 
A: Public investment in peatland restoration has been increased over recent years but remains below what is needed to restore Scotland’s peatlands at a scale that meets current demand. Public funds currently available will not be sufficient to achieve our wider restoration goals and so will need to be supplemented through other means. This could include private investors seeking returns via the Voluntary Carbon Market, corporate social responsibility initiatives or philanthropic donations. There are potential options for individuals, businesses or investment firms to privately finance peatland restoration.

Tendering / Contractor questions

Q: What qualifies as a financial contribution?
A: Only upfront cash contributions will be accepted as eligible financial contributions to bring down overall project costs.  In-kind contributions will not be eligible.

Q: Will there be a direct conflict with financial contributions for Peatland Code and that requested by Peatland Action?
A: Peatland Action funds the actual project costs for the delivery of the restoration, whereas Peatland Code is for the long-term maintenance of the site after re-wetting. As these are two different schemes, there is no conflict in contributions. 

Q: Will this result in demand for contractors being more concentrated at certain times of year, driving up costs by increasing demand?
A: No – peatland restoration will continue to support projects scheduled throughout the year. Our Bird Breeding Guidance has allowed us to increase the season during which active restoration work can be carried out – this will not change as a result of the introduction of an application deadline.

Background and information

We also continue to welcome multi-year applications which plan work across the seasons in future years.

Scotland restored over 10,000ha of peatland in 2023/24.  This is a fantastic achievement and represents a year-on-year increase of around 20% over the previous two years.  This illustrates the growing confidence, maturity and momentum behind peatland restoration as a new industry based on a strong partnership between landowners, contractors, agents, Scottish Government, NatureScot and other Delivery Partners.

At the same time as increasing the hectare output again this year, we have been laying strong foundations for increasing the pipeline of projects for future demand.  We now have many more landowners coming forward with proposals for peatland restoration.  

Indeed, our ability to commit to projects in advance and use the new protocol to allow operations in the bird breeding season led to 90% of the 2024/25 Partnership budget being assigned to projects by the start of the financial year.  This is providing certainty for contractors – to allow them to better plan their work throughout the year – and this demand has resulted in a pipeline of designed projects that we can use to attract wider funding and investment. 

While we still have a lot more to do in order to meet the ambitious target to restore 250,000ha by 2030, peatland restoration is a success story – it is successfully addressing the three key constraints – to increase demand, streamline and improve design, and increase capacity and skills to deliver.

Potential and current applicants within the National Park boundaries

If your peatland restoration project is located within either of Scotland’s National Parks visit their websites or contact the relevant national park Peatland ACTION Team to discuss your proposals:  

• Cairngorms National Park: email: [email protected]
• Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park : email [email protected]