Tree Preservation Orders

The landscape of the town benefits from a diversity of woodlands and tree groups.  It is recognised that these should be protected for future generations to enjoy, and also that they provide valuable habitats for wildlife in the urban environment.  The Council seeks to preserve the existing tree cover by placing Tree Preservation Orders on important specimens or group of trees, thereby prohibiting the removal, topping, lopping or wilful destruction of trees contained within the Order.  Trees covered by a Tree Preservation Order can only be pruned or felled with the Council's consent.  The exceptions to this are where:

• The tree is dead, dying or dangerous
• The tree has to be cut down or pruned in connection with the work of a statutory undertaking, such as the electricity board or water authority
• Where the tree has to be removed to make way for a planning permission

Applications to fell or prune preserved trees should be on application forms available on this site stating the location and species of tree, and the type of work proposed or you can apply online providing the same information.  No fee is required. 

Advice on works to trees can be obtained from the Council's Arboriculturist.

A leaflet 'Protected Trees - a guide to tree preservation procedures' is available from www.communities.gov.uk.

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Trees in Conservation Areas

All trees in Conservation Areas are subject to additional protection.  Those not already included in a Tree Preservation Order may only be pruned or felled after the Council has been given six weeks' written notice of the proposed work.  This period allows the Council to assess the tree's amenity value and to make a Tree Preservation Order if necessary.  Forms are available from our Application Forms download area on this site.

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Trees on Building Sites

The Council attaches great importance to the protection and safe retention of trees on development sites.  Planning conditions are frequently attached to permissions to ensure the protection of trees during construction work.

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