Planning applications with trees nearby usually need one. Here's what the survey covers, and why it pays to get it early.
If you're applying for planning permission and there are trees on or near the site, the council will usually ask for a tree survey to British Standard BS5837:2012. That includes trees in neighbouring gardens whose roots or crowns reach the site.
What the survey covers
- A tree inventory with species, size, age and condition.
- A category for each tree: A (high quality), B (moderate), C (low) or U (unsuitable for retention).
- Root Protection Areas (RPAs) for each tree.
- A tree constraints plan showing what the design has to work around.
Root Protection Areas
The RPA is the area around a tree where the roots need protecting during construction. For a single stem tree it's a circle with a radius of 12 times the trunk diameter, measured 1.5 metres above ground, up to a maximum area of 707 square metres.
So a tree with a 50cm trunk has an RPA radius of 6 metres. Excavation, storing materials and driving machinery inside that area can kill a tree slowly, sometimes years after the build.
The documents that follow
Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA)
Explains how your design affects the trees: which go, which stay and what that means.
Arboricultural Method Statement (AMS)
Sets out how the trees will be protected during the work, including fencing, ground protection and any special foundations.
Tree protection plan
A drawing that shows the builders exactly where protective fencing goes.
Get it done before the design is fixed. A survey at the start costs far less than redesigning after a refusal.
How we help
We carry out BS5837 surveys for homeowners and developers across North London, Essex and Hertfordshire, and we can supervise tree protection on site during the build.
Need a hand? Call us on 020 3897 0446 or send us a message for free advice.
