FY2: Woodland infrastructure

This item is part of Protection and Infrastructure grants 2025. You must read the Protection and Infrastructure grants 2025 guidance to understand the rules and how to apply.

If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, you must read the CSHT applicant’s guide to understand the rules and how to apply.

You’ll need to use application code FY2A when you apply for this capital item.

How much you’ll be paid

Under this item we will pay 60% of actual costs (including VAT and agent’s fees, where applicable).

If you are using your own labour to complete this item, the Rural Payments Agency will pay 80% of the 60% value.

How this item benefits the environment

Making woodlands more accessible by road allows timber and other forest products to be moved more easily, improving the management of the woodland.

Where you can use this item

You can use this item either:

• if you have an approved woodland management plan or a woodland creation plan

• if your Forestry Commission adviser agrees that access infrastructure is necessary for the management of your woodland

The Forestry Commission assesses your application for this capital item before you are offered an agreement.

What you must do to use this item

You must either:

• have an existing Forestry Commission approved woodland management plan identifying that poor vehicle access to the woodland is preventing the movement of timber and other forest products

• have the agreement of your Forestry Commission adviser that a forest road is necessary for the maintenance of your woodland

You must also prepare and agree a detailed specification, specific to your site setting out

• what work is needed

• how much timber you expect to produce

• the soil conditions on site

The work can include building:

• tracks for mechanised timber from extraction to transfer point

• haulage roads and turning points

• haulage road entrances or laybys

• profiling and paving timber transfer points and stacking areas

• culverts and other road and track side drainage

• woodland security, such as gates for new entrance points

The specification must meet national legislation, following the construction, design and management (CDM) regulations for forest roads and tracks. Read the Forestry Commission’s Operations Note 25 for more information about CDM regulations.

Once the specification is agreed, you must provide 3 written quotations for completion of the works, including associated costings with your application. The Forestry Commission will need to agree the quotation with you.

You must check if you need any consents or permissions:

• by providing a description of proposed works to the relevant local authority and highways authority to assess if it is permitted development – read about when you need planning permission for more information.

• where a road crosses a watercourse or uses culverts during construction, use or maintenance – contact the relevant local authority or internal drainage boards within an internal drainage district to see if you need consent

• where a new road in a forest needs access to the public highway, you may also need to notify the relevant highways authority

You must send a copy of the local planning authority’s advice and any permits with your initial application.

The Forestry Commission will decide whether the work requires consent under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) Regulations. This depends on whether your proposal is likely to have a significant effect on the environment.

You should discuss and agree requirements that are specific to your site with your adviser. You must not carry out any construction work related to the item unless you have approval from the responsible body.

Evidence you must keep

You must keep and provide with your claim:

• receipted invoices or bank statements where a receipted invoice is not available

• photographs of the completed work

You must also keep and provide on request:

• any other consents or permissions connected with the work

• photographs of the site before works starts

• a Forestry Commission management plan approval letter

Read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the Agreement holder’s guide: Capital Grants, Higher Tier capital grants and Protection and Infrastructure grants for more information.

If you’re applying for this item as part of a Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT) application, you must read the record keeping and site visit requirements in the CSHT agreement holder’s guide.

Actions you can use with this item

You can use this item Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier action CWD2: Woodland improvement. [CSHT]: Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier [CDM]: construction, design and management