Trees in Relation to Design, Demolition & Construction – Recommendations
Tree Surveys to BS5837 – 2012
Do you have trees on site, or within 20m of your site?
If so, the LPA will likely expect a Tree Survey in accordance with British Standard – BS5837/2012
Tree surveys are the first step in the arboricultural process. All our tree surveys are completed in accordance with British Standard 5837 (2012) ‘Trees in Relation to Design, Demolition & Construction – Recommendations’.
Completing a tree survey early in the process can prevent inappropriate tree retention and allow the development to be designed to retain the most valuable specimens and avoid conflicts with the new development.
‘It is rarely too early to complete Tree / Ecological Surveys. The earlier this process commences, the sooner potential concerns/issues are highlighted and potentially resolved and the more likely it is that the planning process runs smoothly’
We normally provide our BS5837 – 2012 TCP and TPP in PDF format rather than DWG, although DWG can be supplied if requested at the quotation stage.
Tree surveys generally consist of an initial site visit and data collection on trees (species, sizes, etc.). This generates a report which details the root protection areas of the trees and a corresponding Tree Constraints Plan (TCP). This is what the initial quotation is intended to provide.
If there is a firm proposal, it may be possible to produce a Tree Protection Plan (TPP) at this stage, although be aware that this might not permit the design to proceed without amendment. We need to be informed of this at the outset so that the quotation includes the TPP.
Generally, though, the tree survey should be undertaken before planning designs are produced. The TCP should be used to inform the design team of tree-related constraints and designs put in place to avoid or minimise tree harm.
Once the design has been confirmed, a Tree Protection Plan (TPP) and, sometimes, an Arboriculture Impact Assessment (AIA) and/or an Arboriculture Method Statement (AMS) will be required. This will be subject to a further quotation. Normally, significantly less than the initial quotation, as no further site visit will be required.
All too often, an Ecologist and an Arboriculturalist will disagree over tree values/removal and management. Instructing the tree survey with the same company undertaking the ecological site works will save you money and help ensure that the combined process is ‘joined up’ and complementary rather than adversarial. This is especially true since BNG became a statutory requirement for many planning applications. Tree removal can be catastrophic for BNG assessments, and it should never be undertaken until ecological advice and guidance have been provided.
In addition to undertaking site visits, Ecological Surveys Ltd also conducts desktop surveys to determine whether any of the trees surveyed are subject to Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) or whether the site is situated in a Conservation Area. This identifies any likely constraints for the development of trees at the earliest opportunity.
As with most aspects of planning, it is best not to wait until you are told to provide a report at the validation stage, as this would otherwise incur an avoidable delay.
Conducting a Tree Survey concurrently with an Ecological Survey and BNG assessment will save you money and help ensure that the combined process is ‘joined up’ and complementary.
If in doubt, speak to us without delay. Please contact us for a site-specific quotation –
admin@ecological-surveys-ltd.co.uk
Please call us on 0800 888 6846 / 07736 458609
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