Tree Regulation Services

Applications for works to Protected Trees are the responsibility of the Development Management Team.

 

We are responsible for implementing the regulations governing how landowners manage protected trees which make an important contribution to the quality of the Richmondshire environment.

 

The law protects certain individual and groups of trees.  Please refer to our Guidance Note for further information about the protection of trees.

 

 

 

 

Tree Preservation Orders can be placed on any tree that has amenity value, however, the Council's practice is only to protect trees with amenity value that are considered to be at risk.

 

The Council has delegated to Officers the making of Draft Orders, but any objection to the Order is heard by the Planning Committee.

 

Trees that are exempt from TPOs are those that are dead, dying, diseased or dangerous and fruit trees grown for the commercial production of fruit.

 

TPOs prohibit the cutting down, uprooting, topping, lopping, wilful damage or wilful destruction of trees without the Council's consent.

 

The maximum penalty for carrying out works to TPO trees without consent is £20,000.

 

An application form for consent to works on TPO trees is available from this web site.

For a guide to the law and best practise on Tree Preservation Orders please see the Department for Communities and Local Government web site.

 

Trees in Conservation Areas have similar protection: if you wish to fell, lop or top or uproot trees within a Conservation Area, you must give the Council six weeks notice in writing.  It is an offence to carry out the work within that period without the consent of the Council.

 

An application form for consent to works to trees within Conservation Areas is available from this web site.