STEPS 2025 is here!
We’re excited to unveil the full and updated STEPS (Severn Trent Environmental Protection Scheme) programme for 2025! Building on the success of the past five years, this next chapter introduces fresh opportunities to collaborate with farmers to protect and enhance water quality in our area.
With tailored options, STEPS 2025 has been designed to provide meaningful support for your farm whilst targeting water quality improvements. The revitalised scheme provides a wide range of opportunities for us to work together, encouraging fresh ideas and innovative proposals from your – ensuring your farm thrives while we protect our precious water resources together.
In order to build upon our previous success together, we have six core objectives in our STEPS offering:
- Apply in the Right Place, Right Time
- Keep Soil and Nutrients in the Field
- Work in Harmony with Livestock
Within each objective there are a number of options to choose from, all of which have individual specifications. Click here to see options.
What’s more, every objective features a unique Farmer Innovation pathway. This opens the door for you to propose custom projects or equipment that you believe will boost your farm’s performance and help safeguard water quality - all with support from our funding.
In 2025, we’re continuing to focus on priority catchments. To determine if your farm is within a priority catchment and to learn more about the specific priorities in your area, please see the list on the Severn Trent website
To give your application the greatest chance of success, select an option that aligns with your area's specific priorities. In the comprehensive list of options below, you’ll find clear indicators showing which choices are most beneficial for each priority, making it easier for you to match your needs to our support.
We also strongly recommend that you liaise with your local Agricultural Advisor before making an application. By working together we can give your application the best chance of success.
Options
We’ve updated our STEPS options to maximise improvements in water quality and ensure the most effective use of our resources. Our new options include:
- Essential and Enhanced Margins: Buffer watercourses, protecting water quality.
- Low Input Leys: Promote improved soil health and reduced inputs
- Low Drift Nozzles: Minimise drift and reduce pesticide impact.
- Changes to Tillage Practice: Trial the benefits of sustainable tillage methods to protect soil and water.
- Crop Residue Management: Leave residues in the field to build organic matter and reduce your inputs.
- Livestock Integration: Explore different ways to incorporate livestock and manures in the rotation.
- Farmer innovation: you proposals to improve water quality in your area
Continuation Payments for Lasting Impact
To ensure the progress we’ve made together continues, we’re introducing continuation payments for eligible STEPS grant recipients from the past five years (2020-2025).
These payments will help sustain valuable infield practices, safeguarding water quality and amplifying environmental gains for years to come. To find out if you’re eligible, speak to your local Agricultural Advisor.
Taking the Next Step to Protect Water Quality
As well as launching our revised STEPS scheme, we are very excited to combine your knowledge and expertise with our Agricultural Advisors, to help you make efficiencies within your farming system. As part of each application we will work with you to understand your inputs and outputs and help you identify where you could make changes. Not only will this help us to protect water quality, but it will help you to make financial savings in an uncertain financial climate.
A Decade of Farmer Achievements
Over the past 10 years, we’ve invested more than £10 million in farm improvements, turning ambition into action to protect our precious water resources. Together, we’ve achieved significant reductions in pesticides, nitrate, and cryptosporidium entering our waterways. Now, with STEPS 2025, we’re poised to build on this legacy of positive change.
Join Us in Protecting Water Quality
The revised STEPS programme invites you to shape the future of your land and community. Together, we’ll push boundaries, discover new techniques, and continue our shared mission to safeguard water quality and nurture a thriving farm environment.