Last updated: May 2025
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.
Everything you need to know about Tree Surveying
For developers, landscape designers, project managers, site or tree owners, architects or one of several other professionals, you may be thinking of building an extension or renovating / developing a property. If the existing or new building in question is in close proximity to trees, then you will probably need a tree survey, and our arboriculturists have over 10 years of extensive experience working with different types of trees in a wide range of areas.
What is a Tree Survey?
A tree survey is needed because local planning authorities across the UK are required to check the impact that a new development proposal could have on trees and vegetation.
While the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 ensures that certain animal species and habitats and correctly protected, trees are protected species under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, particularly through the use of a conservation area and Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs).
To ensure that these natural assets aren’t disrupted as a result of planning projects, the local planning authority for the designated area requires a number of extremely important documents that outline the potential impact of the proposed development. If you need a tree survey then you will need the extensive range of services of one of our experienced, trustworthy planning consultants to help your project go smoothly. When it comes down to the length of time it takes to complete your tree survey, you will find that it is primarily based on the arboricultural consultant you choose to do it.
Tree Survey Timescale
The time that different consultants take to complete tree survey work can vary quite a bit. For an experienced company like Arbtech, the time scales usually fall into the following categories:
BS5837 Tree Surveys – Around 1 – 5 days.
Impact Assessments – Between 2 – 4 days.
Method statements and Tree Protection Plans – Between 1 and 3 days.
Our Tree Surveyors
At Arbtech, our arboriculturists don’t undertake subsidence work, or get involved with challenging conservation area boundaries, Tree Preservation Order (TPO) appeals, or bid for large-scale tree safety surveys. We don’t do any of this because we are not jacks of all trades. We are the masters of one – having an unwavering focus on the BS5837 tree survey, trees and development.
Because helping people with tree problems secure planning approval from the corresponding local council is all we ever do, we’ve become pretty nifty at it, and we’re justifiably proud of our reputation for being the best in the business. A reputation that we have spent well over a decade earning.
Not only are we able to complete your tree survey quickly and efficiently, but working with us also has the following benefits:
- We provide you with fixed prices and no hidden extras
- We have a 98% success rate in planning
- To make everything as simple as possible, you can book over the phone
- We save you money by reducing delays
The Tree Survey Process
Before we do any professional tree inspections to closely examine structural integrity, we kick things off by asking you a few key questions. What are you planning to do, how, and where? With a site plan and other detailed information provided, we can get your project moving forward at warp speed.
Occasionally, the challenges of your project are especially demanding, and still less regularly, even our tree survey capacity is overwhelmed – but most of the time, you’re looking at a couple or three days for your tree survey and accompanying tree report.
Tree Reports
In the majority of circumstances, you would receive your completed tree report within a few short days of one of our consultants visiting your site and getting all present trees inspected and the tree survey conducted in its entirety.
We can do this because of our investment in visual tree assessment technology such as tree motion sensors, our many years of experience undertaking (probably thousands and certainly) hundreds of projects that present near identical constraints and challenges to your own site, and our personal relationships and reputation among the majority of local authorities throughout the UK.
Tree Surveys
The BS5837 tree survey itself consists of one of our specialist team of arboricultural consultants assessing all existing trees on the site and cross-examining their location with the specifications of your proposed project. Based on these observations, the fully qualified arboriculturist can determine whether the presence of trees will conflict with the aims of the development project, and if they do, they will need to find ways of altering the project to avoid causing harm to trees present within the site boundary or within an influencing distance.
Then, if this isn’t possible, they can use a grading system to rate the quality, value, life expectancy, and physiological and structural condition of each tree. Using this system, they can make important, informed decisions for each tree that will be impacted by the development between relocating or destroying them. Additionally, every professional tree surveyor in our ranks has a duty of care over providing high-quality tree reports and tree surveys, as well as ensuring tree care on single trees during a tree inspection that will prevent unnecessary damage to natural assets, the environment or local biodiversity.
Uniquely, we employ an expert team of arboriculturists and tree surveyors who are located throughout the country to conduct a tree survey in a broad range of locations. So, except in highly unusual circumstances, the only variable determining the cost of a single tree survey is the number of trees you have in addition to any outcomes that could see you have a tree removed, relocated or retained.
How Much Does a Tree Survey Cost?
In the vast majority of instances, developmental plots of land that are yet to pass a planning application with the local councils have 100 trees or fewer and, in response to this, we developed a banded, easy-to-understand price structure for our BS5837 tree survey: 1-20 trees, 21-50 trees and 51-100 trees; starting at just £349 plus VAT. Naturally, these prices are inclusive of our expenses, meaning we avoid extra hidden costs. (If your site has >100 trees, just call us and we’ll get you a free quote back within the hour.)
Due to the fact that all of the surveyors in our arboricultural consultancy conduct each tree survey required to the acceptable level, we are confident that you won’t be refused planning consent by the local authority on the basis of following our advice. So much so, in fact, that we offer a cost-effective 100%, no quibble, money-back guarantee on all of our tree survey and tree survey report services.
Full UK Coverage
When looking for a tree surveyor to help with your project, you’ll probably be keen to find a reliable arboricultural consultancy in your local area to evaluate tree stock and undertake tree surveys to an acceptable level. Arbtech arboricultural consultants cover almost all areas throughout the UK due to our efficient company structure.
Although many of our arboricultural tree surveys are done near some of the UK’s largest towns and cities, we’ll cover nearly anywhere, so speak to our team today, provide them with detailed information about your site and project, and we’ll get a free no-obligation quote out to you.
Additionally, at this stage, we can answer any further questions you may have about submitting a planning application, types of trees on your plot of land, useful information to eliminate any confusion surrounding the physical measurements, age class and scientific name of the tree, and further insight into the full range of methods we use to reduce risk.
Our highly experienced team can then assist you on your project and act as an expert witness for providing sound decisions and impactful protected tree management measures during a British standard tree survey. If any further tree risk management or arboricultural advice is needed, we can also go on to provide a tree condition survey, VALID tree risk assessment, arboricultural impact assessment (AIA) or arboricultural method statement (AMS).
Tree Surveys Made Simple
To get a tree surveyor (arboriculturist) working on your project, all you need to do is call our friendly team of arboricultural surveyors or provide us with your details using the quote form. We’ll ask for accurate information on the trees and the site we need to provide a quote.
We will send you a detailed quote explaining all you need to know about tree surveying, as well as offering further information on anything else you may have questions about such as the process of carrying out a tree survey and how we conduct tree surveys, details over specific areas and a breakdown of potentially complicated concepts used for planning purposes in conjunction with trees, such as crown spread, fungal decay, root protection areas and canopy cover, and more technical areas such as the ins and outs of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
If you want to proceed with the tree survey then just let us know using the booking form that we provide and we will then arrange a date to complete the work. When you request a quote from us, there is no obligation to proceed with the work at all, so you’ve got nothing to lose by getting in touch and obtaining a quote for a tree survey almost anywhere in the UK.
If you have any questions at all, whether it’s about individual trees on your site or details about your planning process, if protected trees, efforts to protect trees, our tree consultants, a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), conservation area or tree owner could affect your project, or if you simply want more information about any of the services we provide such as a tree condition survey / tree risk assessment, high-quality tree survey reports or the tree management recommendations and general sound decisions we make in a tree survey, then contact us on our dedicated page and our knowledgeable team at the head office in Chester will be happy to help.
Health and Safety Tree Survey
As well as a tree survey designed to support planning conditions, we frequently undertake assessments for health and safety purposes. Both our commercial clients and private clients may need a tree survey to check if single trees on their property pose a risk, using it as an opportunity to undertake tree surveying for health and safety reasons across a range of tree problems.
Whether the site poses potential hazards or we are forced to carry out a tree survey in bad weather, we can carry out a ground-level assessment to help with this. Likewise, another branch of this involves avoiding other potential issues, such as subsidence risk or harm to hard surfaces and ensuring that the correct protocol is followed for trees under an existing Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or situated within a designated conservation area.
Our team always consider potential overall health and safety issues during any tree survey and will use accurate information from grading each tree protected by law or otherwise to determine the life expectancy of trees on the site, as well as addressing evidence suggesting the likelihood of tree failure. Through this approach, our arboricultural consultants can make informed decisions to reduce risks and eliminate health/safety aspects that could have otherwise caused damage to people or the local environment.
Tree Survey Feedback
Still not convinced by our tree inspections and tree care services? Following over a decade of undertaking tree surveys all over the UK, we have quickly become the number one experts for tree surveys nationwide. Today, we ensure a tree surveyor in each area across England and certain sections of Scotland and Wales, making it possible for our clients to book tree inspections regardless of location.
Before booking a tree inspection with Arbtech, check out our reviews. We have hundreds of 5-star reviews on our reviews page.