Agricultural buildings
Farm shed grants in Scotland in 2026: what's actually available
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3 min
Stock photograph. Not a Forge & Frame project.
"Is there a grant for a new shed?" is one of the first questions farmers ask us. In Scotland, the honest answer for 2026 is: not through the main capital scheme. Here's what the Future Farming Investment Scheme covers, what it doesn't, and how to plan a new building without one.
The Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS)
The Future Farming Investment Scheme is the Scottish Government's capital grant scheme for farmers and crofters, run through Rural Payments and Services. It funds equipment and improvements that meet its objectives, such as improving efficiency, reducing emissions and improving animal health.
The scheme guidance includes an A to Z list of eligible and ineligible capital items. Check ruralpayments.org for the latest version before you plan around it.
Sheds aren't eligible
The FFIS guidance explicitly lists the following as not eligible:
- Sheds
- New or replacement roofs
- Concrete
- Shed redesigns
- Conversions to slatted housing
So a new cattle court, grain store or machinery shed won't be funded by FFIS.
What FFIS can fund around livestock buildings
Some items that improve existing livestock housing may be eligible, as long as they meet the scheme's objectives and stay in agricultural use for the required period. The guidance includes examples such as:
- Ventilation improvements in livestock housing
- Slat mats
- Sheep handling equipment
- Slurry management equipment
The Scottish Government has said the next FFIS round opens in winter 2026, with grants of up to £20,000. Check the current guidance for dates, limits and eligible items.
Other routes to look at
- Advice. The Farm Advisory Service offers advice for farmers and crofters, including on buildings and infrastructure, and can point you to current schemes.
- Tax. Ask your accountant how a new building is treated for tax. Agricultural buildings and the plant inside them can be treated differently.
- Finance. Many farm buildings are paid for through bank lending or asset finance. Plan stage payments around your cash flow.
- Phasing. Building the frame and roof now and adding walls, doors or fit-out later can spread the cost, if it's planned at the design stage.
Planning a building without a grant
If there's no grant, the building has to pay for itself through what it does for the farm. Questions worth asking:
- What does it save? Fewer losses, less spoilage, less time moving stock or machinery.
- What does it earn? More stock housed, grain stored for better prices, diversification.
- What does it avoid? A failing old building, an asbestos roof, poor ventilation.
A clear spec helps you compare prices properly. Read grain store design: what to decide before you ask for a price and our sheep housing guide.
Watch out for
- Anyone selling a building "with a grant" without telling you which scheme
- Grant applications that require you not to start work before approval. Starting early can make you ineligible
- Grant rules that require items to stay in use for a set number of years
How Forge & Frame helps
We price the whole building, from slab to keys, on one contract, so you know the full cost up front. Where an FFIS-eligible item, such as ventilation equipment, fits into the project, we can price it separately so you can apply for it. Guide price: [PRICE: Iain to confirm]
FAQs
Can I get a grant for a new farm shed in Scotland?
Not through the Future Farming Investment Scheme. Its guidance lists sheds, new or replacement roofs and concrete as ineligible.
What does FFIS fund for livestock buildings?
Examples in the guidance include ventilation improvements, slat mats, sheep handling equipment and slurry management equipment, if they meet the scheme objectives.
When does the next FFIS round open?
The Scottish Government has said winter 2026. Check ruralpayments.org for dates.
Can I start building before a grant is approved?
Check the scheme rules. Many grants don't allow work to start before approval.
Who can advise me on farm grants?
The Farm Advisory Service and Rural Payments and Services.
Get a price for your building
Send us the farm postcode, what the building is for and a rough size.