Forest Roads – Grants, Design, and Construction – Ecoplan

Forest Roads – Grants, Design, and Construction – Ecoplan

Forest roads are more than just tracks through trees — they’re essential infrastructure for long-term forest access and productivity. Whether you’re harvesting timber, managing your woodland, or preparing for future operations, a well-planned forest road can save you time, money, and headaches.

Forest Road Grants – What You Need to Know

Forest Road Scheme Overview

The Forest Roads Scheme 2023–2027 provides financial support for road construction and upgrades. Key points include:

• Grant rate: Up to €55 per metre, with a maximum of 25 metres per hectare.
• Special construction works: Up to €10,000 available for culverts, silt traps, retaining structures, etc.
• Fencing support: Available where necessary to protect the road or manage grazing.

 Planning is essential, and Ecoplan can manage the entire process for you.

Legal Requirements

Constructing a forest road requires more than just machinery. You’ll need a valid forestry licence, and the road must comply with statutory environmental and engineering guidelines. Ecoplan handles all legal and regulatory aspects, including planning, mapping, consultation, and inspections — so you don’t have to.

Forest road access is approved under a “Single Consent” system — meaning DAFM handles permissions for both new and widened entrances. It’s simpler than applying to councils separately, but in practice, the documentation required (e.g. sightline plans, consultation maps) still demands professional planning and thorough detail.

Learn more here: Teagasc Legal Guidelines for Road Construction

Forest Road Design: Not Just a Straight Line

At Ecoplan, we believe a forest road should do more than just connect point A to point B. It should fit the landscape, serve future needs, and minimise its footprint. We don’t believe in bulldozing a straight line just to reach a harvest — we believe in designing something that works for the forest over the long term.

Good design means:

• Working with the terrain, not against it — reducing gradients, cutting fewer trees, and keeping costs down.
• Working with the landscape, to ensure it’s not a scar on the land
• Planning for the future — consider access during afforestation planning; ask how the site will be harvested, where machinery will move, and where stacking will happen.
• Building for flexibility — adding passing bays, turning circles, and space for safe timber stacking.
• Reducing impact — protecting watercourses, leaving buffers, and aligning with biodiversity and climate goals.

A well-designed road isn’t just easier to build — it’s cheaper to maintain, safer to use, and lasts for decades. That’s why we take the time to get it right.

Start the Process Today

If you’re considering building or upgrading a forest road, or even just thinking about how to improve access to your woodland, contact Ecoplan Forestry. We’ll guide you through every step — from planning and grant applications to design, construction, and final approval.

And while you’re here, why not explore our other services, such as Forest Harvesting and Woodland Improvement, to ensure your woodland is working as hard for you as it should?

See our  Forest Management Services  page for what else Ecoplan can do for you, or visit About Us to learn more about Ecoplan Forestry

All the details and small print can be seen on the Departments Forest Road Scheme Page And Teagasc Forestry provide some very good information and advice regarding Forest Road Construction (and a lot more) on their website, and it’s all well worth a look.