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Tree Preservation Orders
Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) are made to protect trees that contribute to the amenity of the area.
District Councils are responsible for making new TPOs. Should you wish to carry out pruning works to a tree, firstly contact your local District Council Planning Department, who will be able to tell you if the the tree is protected by a District or County Order or is located within a Conservation Area. Consent is required before any works are carried out to a tree protected by a Tree Preservation Order, including even minor pruning works.
Anyone can apply for consent, however if consent is granted, it does not confer any legal right to carry out the work and the applicant should make sure any necessary permission is obtained from the owner of the tree.
Trees in a Conservation Area are automatically protected as if a TPO was in place.
When a TPO has been made, the local Council will notify the owner, occupiers and other parties as considered necessary, enclosing a copy of the Order.
TPOs are recorded in the Land Charges Register, which can be inspected at the local Council offices. When purchasing a property, the official searches carried out by your solicitor should reveal the presence of a TPO on the property or whether the property is within a Conservation Area where trees are automatically protected.
Acknowledgement: Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (www.defra.gov.uk).
These notes are offered as a general guide only and do not constitute legal or financial advice.
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