Last updated: April 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.
Gloucester Green Land
Based in the broader county of Gloucestershire, Gloucester is a predominantly countryside city and, between 1894 and 1974, was recognised as a rural district. It also has historical significance, originally founded by the Romans before being seen as an important part of England by various kings in the Middle Ages.
Today, it is a popular tourist destination, seeing over 4.4 million visitors every year. Notable attractions include Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester Docks and Robinswood Hill Country Park. The balance between rural and urban features is one of the selling points that entices so many visitors and residents. However, ensuring new developments don’t entirely eliminate the remaining natural environment in the city is an important consideration for Gloucester City Council.
Tree Protection in the Gloucester Area
On the Gloucester City Council website, the importance of rules regarding trees in conjunction with potential land development projects is outlined. The two primary components are tree preservation orders (TPOs) and conservation areas. Certain trees will be given a TPO to prevent anyone from altering, damaging or disturbing them. Conservation areas are similar, but instead of focusing on specific trees, they apply to all trees within a selected area.
Both of these measures require permission from Gloucester City Council and potentially the broader Gloucestershire County Council before affected trees are impacted. It may not always seem clear whether a tree is under a TPO or situated in a conservation area, but an arboricultural consultant can handle these potential obstacles during a tree survey.
Assessing Trees on a Site
In a tree survey assessment – namely, a BS5837 tree survey – all trees on the site will be analysed by an arboricultural consultant. At this point, they will provide each tree with a grading that is determined by its condition and value. If they are in good condition and hold value, it would be preferable to keep them on-site. However, if they are in poor condition and hold little or no value, it may be more suitable to destroy the tree. Aside from these two options, the tree surveyor could also decide to relocate the tree if it is worth retaining but the project is likely to disturb it.
Following the tree survey, the arboricultural consultant will assemble a tree report that includes all of their findings, as well as recommendations for how each tree should be dealt with. Tree reports will list retained trees, set out mitigation for individual trees on the site and surrounding trees in the vicinity, and clarify whether the planting of new trees on-site or off-site is needed. The development project can then continue despite the presence of trees, and the local planning authority can have the assurances they need that no natural assets will be needlessly damaged or disregarded, and as such, should be perfectly happy to support planning applications.
If the tree consultancy determines that other tree works are needed to demonstrate sufficient tree care to the local planning authorities, we can offer tree inspections designed to suit other needs and purposes. Examples include tree condition surveys, tree management plans and health and safety tree surveys that are designed to protect trees and anyone who could suffer harm if they aren’t left in a safe condition. Between woodland areas and other areas where trees are present, a form of tree survey will be available to benefit applications for planning consent and meet alternative criteria that would otherwise hamper the development.
Our Surveyors
If trees on your site could be disturbed due to your development, the best course of action would be to book a tree survey with a reputable consultant arboriculturist. It is likely that you will have various options for choosing a suitable arboriculturist, but we would insist on considering Arbtech, as our team is qualified, experienced and situated across the country, including in Gloucester and neighbouring areas across South West England.
In our time, we’ve dealt with tree owners, developers and other individuals involved in a planning project, and it has given us all of the insight and expertise to lead on tree surveys that enhance woodland cover and ensure protection over individual trees on a development site and surrounding trees that may be affected. For a free quote based on your site and project, contact us today, give us your details and we will be able to talk you through the process and arrange a suitable date and time to carry out the assessment and help you with your planning application.