Apply to work on a protected tree
If you want to carry out work on a protected tree, you need permission from us.
You can apply for planning permission via the Planning Portal, after you have checked if the tree is:
- in a conservation area
- covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO)
Before you apply, you should read the Works To Trees Guidance (provided by the Planning Portal) to ensure that your application includes all the necessary information.
You can make an application yourself, or employ a local planning agent or tree surgeon to help you.
If you need to find a tree professional, you can find guidance from The Arboricultural Association.
The Planning Portal is a nationwide system, and so we do not support it. If you have any issues with the Planning Portal, you need to get in touch with them directly, via the contact details on their site.
After you have submitted your application via the Planning Portal, we will:
- validate your application, by checking you have submitted all of the required documents and drawings (we will contact you if there are any problems)
- notify the parish council, with a two week notification period for trees in a conservation area, and three weeks for trees covered by a TPO. (During this period, they can submit objections and comments.)
- display a site notice, to notify local residents of the proposal if it is to fell or remove a tree
- assess the application. You check the status of your application online. (We do not give progress updates, give advice on the likely outcome of the application, enter into ad-hoc correspondence or respond to neighbour comments or questions.)
- write a report, where the case officer will recommend your application for approval or refusal
- submit the report to a senior officer for a decision. Our Constitution sets out when our Planning Committee will make a decision on applications.
- issue a decision within the relevant statutory or agreed time frame. This is usually within six weeks for trees in a conservation area, and eight weeks for trees covered by a TPO. (If this is not possible, we will contact you to and let you know why.)
You can appeal a planning decision if you disagree with it, or if we did not issue it within the eight week time frame (for trees covered by a TPO).
Before you appeal, you should contact us so that we can explain why we made that decision.
The Planning Inspectorate deals with all appeals, and you need to lodge your appeal with them.
You can find more information about appealing a planning decision on GOV.UK.