Last updated: November 2024
Author: Rob Lambert
Editor at Arbtech, Rob is a content specialist who manages our ecology and arboriculture services copy to ensure it is accurate, up to date, and insightful for current and future clients.
Rural Areas Around Plymouth
A port city in South West England, Plymouth has a vast history that dates back as far as the bronze age. Due to the presence of the Port of Plymouth, it quickly became the centre of commercial shipping, importing and exporting goods such as arsenic, clay, copper, lime and tin. It was also effective at transporting travellers to and from the Americas but was eventually utilised for military purposes.
From Burgh Island and Devonport Park to Plymbridge Woods and the historic site of Saltram, Plymouth has a wide range of appetising rural sites, as well as plenty of scenic views in the surrounding areas. With so many countryside attractions, it is understandable that Plymouth City Council would have policies in place to prevent natural assets from being entirely destroyed as a result of nearby developments.
Plymouth City Council’s Tree Policies
As with all council websites, the Plymouth City Council website outlines the rules of their many policies, including all that relate to planning and development. A significant section is based around trees and hedges, primarily tree preservation orders (TPOs) and conservation areas. If the tree in question is in a conservation area, the council will need six weeks’ notice before they are disturbed in any way. Trees that are under an existing TPO will also require prior consent from Plymouth City Council before any works affecting them can occur.
There are 15 conservation areas in Plymouth, and over 510 trees across the city are listed under a TPO. As such, it would be advisable to book a tree survey as a method of checking that the trees you are dealing with are not impacted by these restrictions.
Tree Surveys and Reports
Prior to booking a tree survey, you may be wondering what exactly it involves. Carried out by a qualified consultant arboriculturist, a tree survey is a method of determining the value of trees on a site. The results will then contribute to deciding whether trees that would be affected by the development project would be worth keeping or if they should be relocated or destroyed.
During a tree survey, the arboriculturist will grade each tree to indicate their value and condition. They will then create a report that outlines recommendations for how each tree should be approached, taking existing TPOs into consideration, as well as if the development involves a conservation area.
When the report is complete, it can be submitted to the local planning authority as part of the application for planning permission. By providing an overview of how trees will be dealt with from the perspective of a trained arboriculturist, the likelihood of achieving planning permission will be significantly higher.
Arboricultural Consultants in Plymouth
Checking that you are operating within the policies of the local council and preventing major delays are key to any development project. As such, booking a tree survey with a qualified and experienced consultant arboriculturist would be strongly advisable. Based on our reputation, we are the best option when it comes to securing an assessment that possesses everything you need to gain planning permission.
For a free quote, simply contact us and one of our team will be able to talk you through the process and arrange a suitable time and date to visit your site. Once the survey is complete, you will receive the report shortly after, enabling you to submit it to the local planning authority.