The Hidden Power of the BS5837 Tree Survey

At WildBirch, we’ve seen first-hand how the right arboricultural advice, delivered at the right time, can make or break a planning application. Whether you're a developer, architect, planner, or homeowner, this guide will help you understand what makes a good BS5837 tree survey – and how to avoid common pitfalls that can delay your application.

Lindsey Shakespeare undertaking a BS5837 tree survey

#1 BS5837 Tree Surveys Are a Key Part of the Planning Process

·       Trees are a material consideration in planning, and therefore a BS5837:2012 ‘Trees in Relation to Design, Demolition and Construction – Recommendations’ (or BS5837 tree survey for short) is required to assess any trees located on or immediately adjacent to a development site. In addition, trees across the site may be protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or fall within a conservation area and ancient woodlands or veteran trees on or adjacent to the site are protected by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

·       A BS5837 tree survey categorises trees as either:

·       ‘U’ – unsuitable for retention, i.e. those in such poor condition that they cannot realistically be retained in the context of the current land use for longer than 10 years; or

·       ‘A’, ‘B’, or ‘C’ – high, moderate, or low quality respectively, based on a combination of condition and life expectancy.

·       Veteran trees will also be identified during the survey. A desk-based review follows the site visit to check for ancient woodland, TPOs, and conservation area status. This information feeds into the Tree Constraints Plan, which in turn helps inform the site’s masterplanning.

#2 Local Planning Authorities Expect Clear, Accurate and Compliant Tree Reports

·       A BS5837 tree survey should be undertaken by a suitably qualified arboriculturist, with accompanying tree survey schedule and Tree Constraints Plan (TCP) to easily identify the trees across the development site, either included within the report or appended to it. The TCP needs to include a redline boundary that matches the site layout* (*see exception below).

·       The report will comprise an Arboricultural Impact Assessments (AIA) and Arboricultural Method Statement (AMS) as one combined document, however, an AMS is ordinarily only required for detailed, full or reserved matters planning applications.

·       A Tree Protection Plan (TPP) would need to be included as part of an AIA and AMS, along with an assessment of the trees to be impacted, lost and retained as part of the development proposals. A simple table within the report is often the clearest way to present this information, to submit alongside the TPP.

·       For high-level, outline applications, where only an AIA would be required, in some instances a Tree Retention and Removal Plan (TRRP) will be sufficient to submit alongside the AIA.

#3 Early Arboricultural Input Can Shape Better Development Outcomes

·       With nearly 18 years of combined experience in both local government and private practice, Lindsey knows how to navigate the planning process pragmatically – and how to help retain valuable trees without compromising development goals.

·       Trees can be a constraint on development – but with the right input, they can also become one of a site's biggest assets. Trees offer multiple benefits, from enhancing character and biodiversity to increasing property values. A good arboricultural consultant will help ensure trees are successfully integrated into the site’s layout and protected throughout the process.

#4 How to Choose the Right Tree Consultant

·       It’s important to choose a consultant who’s suitably qualified, is a member of the Arboricultural Association and has industry specific experience – all of which can be verified on their website, on their LinkedIn profile or via CV, if requested.

·       They should also have a minimum of £1m public indemnity insurance and should be able to provide a copy of this on request.

·       At WildBirch, we meet all of the above, so you can feel confident you're in safe hands.

#5 Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

·       Out-of-date surveys and reports – the majority of arboricultural consultants will put a time constraint on their surveys e.g. valid for 2 years/24 months. After this time, the Local Planning Authority (LPA) may request an updated survey and report to accompany the planning application, which may delay the planning application.

·       Redline boundary on the TCP/TPP not matching the site layout; the client needs to ensure that the arboricultural consultant has been provided with the latest redline boundary; the only *exception is on the TCP, where it can state ‘Survey Area’ rather than ‘Redline Boundary’ as the overall survey area can differ from redline boundary submitted as part of the planning application – but this needs to be specified.

·       The site layout (revision) doesn’t match that in the AIA/AMS, or that which has been overlaid onto the TPP/TRRP; the client needs to ensure that the arboricultural consultant has been provided with the latest revision.

#6 The Value of Experience and Collaboration

·       Arboricultural consultants with many years of experience, as well as experience of working on varied projects, bring a multitude of skills to each new project. From working on large-scale projects, down to the small householder applications, we’ve seen the variety of ways things can and do go wrong and therefore can head things off before this happens. We’ve dealt with lots of different clients, from planners, to architects, engineers, ecologists, archaeologists to on-site ground workers and site managers – we have worked with and spoken to almost everyone in the planning world...and we’ve often been told no by them too! However, we’ve also learnt that there’s nearly always a solution, if we all work together to come up with one.

·       We love to learn from different people in the industry and we also love to teach and pass on tree knowledge to others, to help retain trees on development sites.

If you’d like advice on the best way to incorporate trees into your development proposals – or need a reliable, experienced consultant to support your planning application – feel free to get in touch with us at WildBirch.