Trees on a potential construction site
Trees on a potential construction site may present real & expensive problems for everyone involved in a development project, if not considered right from the outset, possibly even torpedoing the entire project. However, if considered from the outset & integrated within a design proposal, valuable trees can lend their value to a project, resulting in increased property values.
General planning procedures require trees of value to be considered at the beginning of a project & for this consideration to be demonstrated at application stage, through a series of supporting technical drawings, reports & method statements. Local planning authorities also require a level of expert arboricultural involvement at various stages of a development project, where these projects could impact trees.
Currently when planning applications are received by a planning authority, they assess them according to their planning policies & require the submitted arboricultural information to conform to a British Standard (BS5837).
BS5837:2012
The current standard by which Local planning authorities will assess development projects and nearby trees is BS5837:2012. This standard lays down the framework & standard by which to provide development related tree
surveys, arboricultural implications assessments, design solutions to integrate valuable trees and their needs into the project, tree protection measures, the roles of the project arboriculturist and post development arboricultural
issues.