Tree Preservation Orders

Our policy is normally to protect trees that are under threat. We will also consider protecting trees that are useful or desirable where the threat is less obvious.

You must not cut down, uproot, top, lop, wilfully damage or wilfully destroy a tree covered by a Tree Preservation Order without our consent. The maximum penalty for carrying out work to protected trees without consent is £20,000.

Our tree enforcement policy to explain how we will take enforcement action against unauthorised works to protected trees.

Carrying out work to a protected tree

If you want to carry out appropriate work to a tree protected by a Tree Preservation Order, you must make a planning application. Before you apply, we would encourage you to contact a qualified tree surgeon.

You can apply for permission through our apply for planning permission page, which will take you to the forms you need. If we grant consent, it will usually carry a time limit and a condition that the work follows best practice, as set out in BS 3998 tree work.

Tree Preservation Orders - exemptions

The following are examples of some of the exemption to Tree Preservation Order protection. Please ask us about other exemptions:

• Trees that are dead or dangerous and trees grown to produce fruit commercially
• The removal of dead of fractured tree limbs
• Work to comply with the Highways Act

Tree Preservation Order applications

You can see a list of applications for works on trees covered by TPOs by:

• Go to an advanced search on our online planning applications system
• Type in 'TPO' for the application reference
• Select the dates you need
• Select search

The decision notice is located in the documents section of each application.