Trees and planning

Planning applications must provide information on existing trees and other landscape features where present. Detail of which trees are to be retained at a site and which are to be felled must be included with the application.

Trees are potential locations for bats who may be using them as roost sites. Bats are a european protected species and a bat survey may be required before any works to the tree are carried out. You may be required to carry out mitigation measures.

It is a criminal offence to intentionally, deliberately or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place used by a protected species for shelter or protection or to disturb a protected species while it is occupying such a structure/tree. If there is any doubt about any planned works, advice should be sought from Natural England prior to any works.

For further information, please refer to our leaflet 'Trees on development site', which sets out the procedure developers need to follow (including for both privately and publicly owned trees).