Service · South West England
Tree Preservation Order & Conservation Area advice
Guidance and applications for protected trees — Tree Preservation Orders and Conservation Areas — so works are carried out lawfully and applications stand the best chance of approval.
- TechArborA
- Dip Level 4 Arb
- QTRA Registered
- LOLER Inspector
Tree Preservation Orders
A Tree Preservation Order (TPO) is made by a local planning authority to protect trees that matter to the local landscape. Without the council's consent, it is an offence to cut down, top, lop, uproot, wilfully damage or wilfully destroy a protected tree.
Consent is applied for with a clear specification of the work and the reasons for it. A well-evidenced application — supported, where needed, by an assessment of the tree's condition — gives it the best chance of approval first time.
Trees in Conservation Areas
Most trees in a Conservation Area are protected too. Before working on a tree with a stem diameter of 75 mm or more (measured 1.5 m above the ground), you must give the council six weeks' notice — a 'section 211 notice' — so it can decide whether to make a Tree Preservation Order.
Who it's for
- Homeowners with a protected tree that needs work
- Property owners in a Conservation Area
- Developers and agents dealing with protected trees on site
- Tree surgeons needing an application prepared for a client
FAQs
Questions about TPO & Conservation Area advice
How do I find out if my tree is protected?
Ask your local planning authority — most councils publish an online map of Tree Preservation Orders and Conservation Areas, or will confirm by email whether a particular tree is protected. I can carry out the check for you as part of any instruction.
What happens if I work on a protected tree without consent?
It can be a criminal offence. Cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting, wilfully damaging or wilfully destroying a protected tree without consent can lead to prosecution and a fine, and the council can usually require a replacement tree to be planted.
How much notice do I need to give for tree work in a Conservation Area?
Six weeks. You must notify the local planning authority (a 'section 211 notice') before working on most trees in a Conservation Area — broadly, any tree with a stem diameter of 75 mm or more, measured 1.5 m above the ground. The council then has six weeks to decide whether to protect the tree with a Tree Preservation Order.
How long does a TPO application take?
Councils normally aim to decide applications for work to protected trees within eight weeks. A clear, well-evidenced application — with a precise specification of the work and the reasons for it — gives it the best chance of approval first time.
How much does help with a TPO application cost?
It depends on the number of trees and whether supporting evidence such as a condition assessment is needed. Every job is different, so you get a clear fixed quote up front, usually within one working day.
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