New National Forest - Oxford-Cambridge Corridor - Competition
This competition is the first of two that will deliver the remaining new national forests in England. It will establish a forest in the Oxford–Cambridge Corridor. The OxCam Corridor has been selected because it is already recognised by government as an area of strategic importance, earmarked for significant growth and development. This NNF will showcase how enhancing the natural environment can go hand-in-hand with economic development delivering benefits for communities within the corridor. This forest will be transformative, providing significant economic, environmental, and social benefits. Defra is now inviting organisations outside of central government or its ALB to submit a proposal to act as a Delivery Partner.
- Opening date:
- Closing date:
Contents
Summary
Background
The government has made a manifesto commitment to create three new national forests in England during this Parliament. The first of these forests – the Western Forest – was launched in March 2025 in South-West England.
This competition is the first of two that will deliver the remaining new national forests in England. It will establish a forest in the Oxford–Cambridge Corridor, with a second competition to follow for a new national forest in the North and Midlands.
The OxCam Corridor has been selected because it is already recognised by government as an area of strategic importance, earmarked for significant growth and development. This NNF will showcase how enhancing the natural environment can go hand-in-hand with economic development delivering benefits for communities within the corridor.
This forest will be transformative, providing significant economic, environmental, and social benefits. Defra is now inviting organisations outside of central government or its Arm’s Length Bodies to submit a proposal to act as a Delivery Partner.
Scope/Aim
Defra has identified the following outcomes that the new national forest will deliver
as follows:
· Transformative change: Demonstrating how trees and woodlands can transform a landscape, with positive benefits for wildlife, local communities and business.
· Landscape-scale delivery: Delivered across a defined landscape (or landscapes) to create a sense of place and demonstrate the impact of tree planting in the long term.
· Biodiversity recovery: Drive significant increases in the cover of wildlife habitats and promote the effective management of existing habitats, contributing to targets set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 (EIP).
· Growth potential: Harness growth through the planning system to support the creation and integration of forest habitats within new development, and to fund wider improvements to green and blue infrastructure within the forest. The new national forest will also develop and test models of leveraging private investment into its delivery for people and nature.
· Social benefits: Increase access to nature a significant and identifiable population within and immediately outside the forest boundary, particularly those in areas suffering significant levels of deprivation. In particular, to demonstrate the presence of communities who will particularly benefit through access to nature, recreation, education, job creation and volunteering.
· National purpose: Contribute to national priorities in its rationale for transformation that can be repeated elsewhere, influence policy, or impact wider society (e.g., economic regeneration, landscape restoration, new towns).
The competition aims to award to a single applicant who will collaborate with the National Forest Company (NFC) in the development of the detailed project plan and strategy for the new national forest and then serve as the lead delivery partner. The NFC will act as the grant manager and strategic lead for the project on behalf of Defra, which acts as the grant sponsor. Throughout this process, the successful applicant will be expected to work closely with the grant manager NFC.
Eligibility
The eligibility criteria for suitable organisations are:• Evidence of organisational status: Applicants, whether applying individually or as part of a wider consortium, must be a registered public, charitable or private organisation.
• Leadership, advocacy and strategy: Have skills and expertise in leadership and strategy for major programmes of similar complexity, including organisational resilience, scale and track record.
• Experience of successful woodland creation projects at scale: Have demonstrable experience of successfully delivering public benefit through woodland creation at a landscape scale, including the administration of grant schemes, support to partners, and detailed reporting.
• Partner and community engagement experience: Have demonstrable knowledge of and active engagement with senior partners and communities in OxCam. This will include having credibility, trust and networks with key partners, politicians and institutions to support delivery, convene groups and communicate ambitions.
• Planning and private finance experience: Have a proven understanding of and track record in engagement with the planning system and private finance sectors to secure significant funding and delivery of tree planting and establishment schemes.
• Financial solvency evidence: Proven long-term financial solvency, with a demonstrable net income surplus for the last three financial years and the ability to manage cash flows.
Objectives
Scope/Aim
Defra has identified the following outcomes that the new national forest will deliver
as follows:
· Transformative change: Demonstrating how trees and woodlands can transform a landscape, with positive benefits for wildlife, local communities and business.
· Landscape-scale delivery: Delivered across a defined landscape (or landscapes) to create a sense of place and demonstrate the impact of tree planting in the long term.
· Biodiversity recovery: Drive significant increases in the cover of wildlife habitats and promote the effective management of existing habitats, contributing to targets set out in the Environmental Improvement Plan 2025 (EIP).
· Growth potential: Harness growth through the planning system to support the creation and integration of forest habitats within new development, and to fund wider improvements to green and blue infrastructure within the forest. The new national forest will also develop and test models of leveraging private investment into its delivery for people and nature.
· Social benefits: Increase access to nature a significant and identifiable population within and immediately outside the forest boundary, particularly those in areas suffering significant levels of deprivation. In particular, to demonstrate the presence of communities who will particularly benefit through access to nature, recreation, education, job creation and volunteering.
· National purpose: Contribute to national priorities in its rationale for transformation that can be repeated elsewhere, influence policy, or impact wider society (e.g., economic regeneration, landscape restoration, new towns).
The competition aims to award to a single applicant who will collaborate with the National Forest Company (NFC) in the development of the detailed project plan and strategy for the new national forest and then serve as the lead delivery partner. The NFC will act as the grant manager and strategic lead for the project on behalf of Defra, which acts as the grant sponsor. Throughout this process, the successful applicant will be expected to work closely with the grant manager NFC.
Dates
Issue Invitation to Apply (ITA)
25th March 2026
Deadline for clarification questions from Applicants
Date
6th May 2026
Time
17:00 BST
Deadline for submission of Applications
Date
20th May 2026
Time
17:00 BST
Applicant Due Diligence Prior to Evaluation
21st May 2026
Evaluation of Applications
Start
21st May 2026
End
4th June 2026
Post Evaluation Enhanced Applicant Due Diligence
Date
5th June 2026
Request for Interview sent out
Date
w/c 8th June 2026
Interview period
8th - 17th June 2026
Funding award notification
29th June 2026
Funding start date
1st July 2026
Development grant period
Start
1st July 2026
End
30th September 2026
Delivery Plan agreed
Date
1st October 2026
Implementation grant
Start
October 2026
End
March 2031
Funding end date
31st March 2031
How to apply
Apply via Defra e-Sourcing platform:Welcome