Woodfuel East

Woodfuel East  manages a Strategic Investment Support Programme that provides a contribution towards harvesting and processing equipment to produce woodchip, storage and drying facilities and hard standing/access tracks within woodland. 

These grants are awarded through the European Rural Development Programme and are subject to the eligibility criteria of that programme. To be eligible for funding the applicant will need to be a woodland owner or a micro enterprise, producing woodfuel from virgin wood (roundwood). 

Eligibility of your business and your project idea does not automatically mean that you will be awarded a grant. You will be required to demonstrate in your application how your project contributes to the aims and objectives of Woodfuel East,  and the investment supported needs to be predominantly used within the region.  The final decision to approve or reject an application remains the discretion of the Executive or Steering Committee, depending on the level of support requested.

A copy of the latest funding guidelines can be downloaded here. Alternatively a hard copy can be requested from Diane at the Woodfuel East office; 01223 773072. Once you have read the funding guidelines you can obtain a Concept Form from your Business Development Advisor (BDA); contact details are available here . The application form will be provided to you once it has been established that your business and project is eligible for funding.

The Woodfuel East Strategic Investment Support Programme is a continuous programme that will run until the end of 2013. Please be aware that the guidelines and application forms are by no means cast in stone and likely to develop over time. There are four deadlines per year by which you have to submit your full proposals. This will allow for the evaluation of proposals for the next Committee Meeting. The next deadlines are 18th June and 17 September 2010. 

If you apply for a grant as a woodland owner you will be required to submit a woodland management plan at the full proposal submission stage. We recommend that you use the Forestry Commission's England  Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) format. The EWGS management plan template and guidelines are available here. You can use the application form available on the same page to apply for a woodland planning grant.

You will also be required to complete a Woodfuel Assessment Form, that can be downloaded here.  If you are applying as a woodland owner you will be required to register with the Rural Payments Agency to obtain a Single Business Identifier (SBI). Relevant information can be found at the Forestry Commission EWGS pages. Whether you have an SBI number or not , you will also need to submit a Creg16 application form which can be obtained by contacting your regional BDA.