Development Partnership Forum
18th February 2014
The Purpose of Tree Surveys
PLANNING FOR TREES
WHY SURVEY TREES? - LEGISLATION
Section 197 of the Town & Country Planning Act:
“It shall be the duty of the local planning authority—
(a) to ensure, whenever it is appropriate, that in
granting planning permission for any development
adequate provision is made, by the imposition of
conditions, for the preservation or planting of trees;
and
(b) to make such orders under Section 198 as
appear to the authority to be necessary in
connection with the grant of such permission,
whether for giving effect to such conditions or
otherwise.”
PLANNING FOR TREES
WHY SURVEY TREES? – NATIONAL / LOCAL POLICIES
National Planning Policy Framework
11. Conserving and enhancing the natural environment
Borough Strategy 2010-2015
Theme 5: Improving health and support for independent
lives +
Theme 7: Creating a cleaner and better environment
= Environment StrategyGreen Infrastructure Strategy
Core Strategy CS16: Valuing our Natural Environment
- Sites and Policies DPD: residential (SP22); commercial
(SP24)
PLANNING FOR TREES
WHY & HOW TO SURVEY TREES? - NATIONAL
GUIDANCE
Tree preservation orders: a guide to the law and good
practice DETR 2000
British Standards Institute 5837 (2012): Trees in relation
to design, demolition and construction – Recommendations
- trees = a constraint (like anything else);
- ‘competent person’
- weed out poor trees: see what’s left;
- use to inform the design process……
…………………………GOOD QUALITY DEVELOPMENT
PLANNING FOR TREES
PLANNING FOR TREES
WHY SURVEY TREES? - LOCAL GUIDANCE
Validation checklist
Doncaster Council
Planning Application Information Requirements and
Validation Checklist
Approved January 2009
http://www.doncaster.gov.uk/Search/searchsite.aspx?q=validation%20checklist
PLANNING FOR TREES
NO TREE SURVEY?
- can lead to poor quality design e.g. development poorly
sited in relation to retained trees;
- misplaced retention of poor quality trees;
- unresolved objections;
- tendency for pre-conceived designs which conflict
with site constraints;
= Planning delays
PLANNING FOR TREES
One final thought…………………….
In view of the fact that tree issues are often emotive during the
planning process, Local Planning Authorities mostly use tree
survey information to help justify development in the face of
objections to loss of trees.
PLANNING FOR TREES
CONTACTS
DMBC Trees and Hedgerows Officers (Planning)
Jonathan Tesh
(01302) 735080; jonathan.tesh@doncaster.gov.uk
Timothy Bryant
(01302) 735077; timothy.bryant@doncaster.gov.uk