Tree Preservation

All trees within Conservation Areas and trees with Tree Preservation Orders are protected trees. All work on protected trees must have approval from the Planning Service. Application forms and a checklist can be obtained from the 'Planning Forms' page (see related information link) if you wish to obtain approval to carry out works to a protected tree.
To see if you live in a Conservation Area, check The Conservation Area page.
To check if there is a Tree Preservation Order attached to your property, contact the Trees & Landscape Team.

There are generally three ways in which the local authority protects trees in the District. These are listed below in order of likelihood:

1. by Tree Preservation Orders (TPO);
2. by designating a Conservation Area; and
3. by a condition attached to a planning permission.

Tree Preservation Orders

The local planning authority has the power to protect trees by making tree preservation orders. These make it an offence to cut down, top, lop, uproot, wilfully damage or wilfully destroy a tree without our permission

Their purpose is to protect trees for the public's enjoyment. This is especially important where trees are in danger of removal.

Any type of tree including hedgerow trees, but not hedges, bushes or shrubs can be covered by a TPO. A TPO may cover anything from a single tree to a whole woodland. A TPO will usually specify not only a geographical area it covers but also the location and species of all trees specifically covered. Therefore not all trees within a TPO affected area will be protected.

To find out if your property and any particular tree is subject to either a confirmed or provisional TPO please telephone the Tree and Landscape Section of Planning Services. Should you see anyone working on a protected tree, they can also tell you if the owner has obtained the necessary permission.

Also an official search of the local land charges register made before you purchase a property should reveal the existence of a tree preservation order (or whether your property is in conservation area). Make sure your solicitor tells you if any trees are protected

The process of making a TPO.

A. At the public's instigation:

Contact us giving details of the trees, including a map if possible and reasons why you think the trees should be protected.

We must then decide, in our professional judgement, if it is expeditious to do so. If we decide not to issue a TPO you will be advised of our reasons.

B. On Crown Land, we need permission from the relevant authority. Crown Land is land belonging to government departments or land held nominally on behalf of the Queen by the government.

Once planning permission is granted, any felling may be carried out which is directly required to enable the development to go ahead.