All you need to know about Tree Preservation Orders
What is a Tree Preservation Order?
According to gov.uk “A Tree Preservation Order (TPO) is an order made by a local planning authority in England to protect specific trees, groups of trees or woodlands in the interests of amenity.” Right, but what does that really mean? Essentially, your Local Planning Authority (LPA) can make a Tree Preservation Order to protect from deliberate damage and destruction trees that are important for the amenity of the area. If it appears to them that a tree or woodland is of exceptional value and quality, age or historical nature then a TPO may be put in place. An order can be used to protect individual trees, trees within an area, groups of trees or whole woodlands. Protected trees can be of any size or species.
What does a TPO prohibit?
An order may prohibit all or some of the following items:
cutting down
topping
lopping
uprooting
wilful damage
wilful destruction of trees without the local planning authority’s written consent.
If consent is given, it can be subject to conditions which have to be followed. It’s important to bear in mind that a TPO does not stop works that need to be carried out to a tree. However, permission must be sought first.
What do councils take into account when making a Tree Preservation Order?
When considering whether trees should be protected by an order, authorities are advised to develop ways of assessing the amenity value of trees in a structured and consistent way. An authority will take into account visibility, the individual, collective and wider impact of the tree or trees and many other factors. Before making an order a Local Planning Authority Officer should visit the site of the trees in question and consider whether or not an order is justified. Once a TPO is served, the tree does not become the responsibility of the Council.
How can this effect your project?
When making a planning application any information on a TPO will already be on your Local Planning Authority’s website. Long before you submit a planning application, Method Studio will check this information with your Local Authority or Council. If there is a TPO on your land we can help you put a plan together or provide the contact information for one of our recommended Arboriculturalists, who can carry out a tree survey if necessary.
Should you care about a Tree Preservation Order?
The short answer is definitely yes! Tree Preservation Orders are really important and should not be ignored. If your trees are protected and you either remove the trees or do work to them, without permission, you could be given a substantial fine or even prosecuted. Method Studio can take the hassle out of this part of your project. Contact our team today and they will be very happy to help!