Trees in conservation areas

Trees in Conservation Areas are protected if they have a trunk (stem) diameter exceeding 75mm when measured at approximately 1.5m above ground level.

If you live within a Conservation Area and wish to cut down, uproot or prune a tree you must give the Council six weeks' written notice before carrying out any work.

When we receive your notification we will assess whether the proposed works are appropriate using the following criteria:

• Will the works have a detrimental landscape impact within the Conservation Area?
• Are the works justified on grounds of condition etc?
• If refusal is considered, is the tree of sufficient quality and public amenity value to be protected by a Tree Preservation Order?

We will either grant the application or make a Tree Preservation Order.

Site visits will be carried out unaccompanied and we may ask that external access through a gate is provided at a prearranged time. Should access through a building be necessary and the only means possible, we will contact you to arrange a specific time.

A register of Tree works in Conservation Areas and Tree works to TPO protected trees which is published weekly - Applications, decisions and appeals.

Give Notice to the Council

• Privacy Notice – Planning and tree works applications ( pdf - 211.69 KB )
• Tree works application form 2012 ( pdf - 222.39 KB )
• Tree Works Validation Checklist April 2016 ( pdf - 39.81 KB )

Fast-track service for applications relating to TPO trees and Conservation Area notices

A fast-track service now exists for tree work applications so that decisions are made by the end of the 4th week after validation unless they are called in for a Planning Committee to determine instead. For full details, please see our Fast-track Tree Service page.