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Tree Safety Inspections

Under the Occupiers’ Liability Acts, tree owners and managers have a legal duty of care to ensure the safety of all individuals on their land, including visitors and trespassers. To meet this obligation, it is recommended that trees are regularly inspected by a qualified Arboriculturist, ensuring compliance with legal responsibilities and the maintenance of a defensible inspection record.

Trees are inspected from ground level to identify any significant defects or notable features. Where such issues are detected, a detailed risk assessment is undertaken to determine whether they present an unacceptable level of risk. Based on the findings, appropriate remedial actions may be recommended to mitigate the risk to an acceptable level, or a more specialised inspection may be advised. Specialised inspections can include climbing assessments or the use of advanced decay detection technology.

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Trees and Planning

Under the Town and Country Planning Act (1990), local authorities are required to ensure that any planning applications with potential impacts on trees are properly assessed and that appropriate mitigation measures are implemented. The procedures and standards for such assessments are defined in British Standard 5837:2012 – Trees in Relation to Design, Demolition and Construction.

Arborlogica specialises in delivering comprehensive BS5837 tree surveys, along with fully compliant Arboricultural Impact Assessments (AIA), Method Statements (AMS), and Tree Protection Plans (TPP). These documents are essential for submission to the Local Planning Authority (LPA) when trees are present on or near a development site and may be affected by proposed works.

Following the initial site inspection, a Tree Constraints Plan (TCP) is produced to illustrate the rooting zones and canopy spreads that could influence or constrain the design process. Ideally, this plan should be prepared prior to the development of the site layout, allowing the design to be informed by existing tree constraints.

Where the proposed design encroaches into rooting zones or canopy areas, technical advice and mitigation solutions can be provided to minimise potential impacts. Once the final design is confirmed, an Arboricultural Impact Assessment is prepared to evaluate both the effects of the development on existing trees and the potential influence of trees on the proposed layout.

To ensure the long-term protection of retained trees, an Arboricultural Method Statement (AMS) and Tree Protection Plan (TPP) are then produced. These documents set out the procedures for safeguarding trees throughout the demolition and construction phases, detailing how above- and below-ground impacts will be mitigated. They also identify any necessary tree removals and outline appropriate mitigation measures to compensate for those losses.

Following planning approval, Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) may impose conditions requiring certain operations near trees to be undertaken under arboricultural supervision, or that additional information be submitted for approval prior to works commencing.

Discharging of Arboricultural Planning Conditions

Arborlogica can assist in discharging any arboricultural planning conditions, ensuring all requirements are met efficiently and in full compliance with LPA standards.

Hi-Tech Equipment

We employ high-precision surveying instruments to accurately record tree data and use state-of-the-art Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software to produce detailed survey plans and drawings. This approach ensures that all data, plans, and drawings are delivered with the highest level of accuracy and fully comply with BS5837:2012 standards, making them suitable for inclusion with any planning application where trees may be affected.