Local Requirements

Required where:

• Where the answer to the Trees and/or Hedges questions on the application form is 'Yes'
• Where there are trees and/or hedges within the application site or on land adjacent to it that could influence or be affected by the development, including street trees
• Any loss of trees

If you feel the proposal will not affect trees or will not affect trees of any significant value in amenity, habitat, screening or other attribute please provide a written statement clearly setting out such reasons which should include annotated images.

Guidance

An arboriculturist should undertake a survey and appraisal of trees on the application site and adjoining land and produce the following information, consistent with the standards set out in British Standard 5837:2012:

Trees to be felled and retained should be clearly marked on a plan. The accompanying data table should provide information on all appropriate attributes that may be useful in allowing understanding of the trees. For example, it should include details of species, height, spread, age, condition, useful life expectancy and so on.

A tree/ hedge constraints plan should show root protection areas and the canopy spread of the tree(s) on the site and adjoining land, to include shade patterns and all information as required within BS5837

As well as the trees, the survey must indicate key landscape features such as ponds, hedges and wildlife corridors that may be affected by the proposed development

For larger applications it will also be appropriate to provide the landscape strategy for the site, including indications of new planting.

An Arboricultural Method Statement and Tree/ Hedge Protection Plan should be provided detailing the measures to be taken to protect all trees proposed to be retained on the submitted drawings. This should be accompanied by schedules of any necessary facilitative tree work. You should also include proposals for long-term maintenance, details of special constructional techniques and any other special measures required to retain trees through the proposed development.

If you are granted full planning permission, you will not need separate consent for tree works which are required to implement the planning permission. However, works to protected trees or trees within a conservation area which are not required to implement the planning permission, will require separate consent.

Useful Links

• Natural England: Ancient Woodlands Advice
• BS 5837: 2012

You will need to submit: 

• Fully completed application form, noting non-completion of all required check fields will result in non-validation.
• Clearly legible plan showing -
  • Boundaries and adjoining properties with their names or numbers
  • Clear depiction of the tree's relationship to the subject property (if any) and/ or other fixed features to allow ease of understanding for public consultation
  • Name of closest public highway annotated on plan
  • Prepared to give clear location of each tree, trees, tree group or woodland, or combination of all within the context of the plan and relationship to fixed features
  • Inclusion of a North arrow where possible.
• All trees, groups and woodlands to be clearly marked E.g. T1, T2, G1, G2, W1, W2 etc

Where a development involves works to a tree or trees subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), trees to be felled and retained should be clearly marked on a plan.

Legislation does not require a scaled location plan, but this is helpful to identify the tree/s.

You should also include:

• Fully completed application form
• When S8.1 & 8.2 are ticked yes, the additional supporting information must be submitted by someone competent in the relevant professional field (Arboriculturalist). This is a strict requirement unless the tree/s are clearly dead. If this is the case, this can be substantiated by photographic evidence by a non-expert with supporting commentary
• Clearly legible plan showing -
  • Boundaries and adjoining properties with their names or numbers
  • Clear depiction of the tree's relationship to the subject property (if any) and/ or other fixed features to allow ease of understanding for public consultation
  • Name of closest public highway annotated on plan.
• Give clear location of each tree, trees, tree group or woodland, or combination of all within the context of the plan and relationship to fixed features
• Inclusion of a North arrow
• All trees, groups and woodlands to be clearly marked E.g. T1, T2, G1, G2, W1, W2 etc.
• In groups and woodlands (e.g. G1, W1), an indication of how many stems to be worked on
• All dimensions of intended works to be expressed in metres from a reference point, e.g. pollard to 4 metres from ground level, crown lift to 3 metres from ground level on West side, lateral reduction by 2 metres on all sides
• Applications to fell trees suspected to be affected by Ash Dieback submitted outside the growing season should be submitted with evidence (e.g. photographs) obtained during the previous growing season.

Any application for a 5-day felling notice for trees subject to a TPO or within a Conservation Area must include:

• Completed application form
• Supporting statement/ report from an Arboriculturalist, unless the tree/s are clearly dead. If this is the case this can be substantiated by photographic evidence by a non-expert with supporting commentary
• Clearly legible plan showing -
  • Boundaries and adjoining properties with their names or numbers
  • Clear depiction of the tree's relationship to the subject property (if any) and/ or
  • other fixed features to allow ease of understanding for public consultation
  • Name of closest public highway annotated on plan.
  • Gives clear location of each tree, trees, tree group or woodland, or combination of all within the context of the plan and relationship to fixed features
  • Inclusion of a North arrow