Protected Trees, TPOs & Conservation Area Advice
Protected tree and TPO advice across Sussex and Surrey. Practical guidance on what work requires permission and how to move the job forward properly.
What the job involves
Tree Preservation Orders and conservation area designations are the two most common reasons a tree job gets complicated before it starts. A TPO doesn't mean the tree can't be touched. It means you need to apply to the council before carrying out pruning, reduction, or removal work. Conservation area trees don't have a TPO but still require a notification period. Neither process is as dramatic as it sounds, but starting work without checking first is the mistake that creates real problems.
- Check whether the tree has a TPO or sits in a conservation area, before any quote is finalised
- Understand the actual problem with the tree and what the client needs to achieve
- Set out a scope of work that is proportionate and defensible if the council wants to discuss it
- Submit the TPO application or conservation area notification as required
- Carry out the agreed work once clearance is confirmed
A customer in Reigate wanted a large lime reduced. It was blocking light and causing issues with a neighbour. The tree turned out to be in a conservation area. We checked the designation, submitted the notification, waited the required period, and then carried out a measured reduction within the agreed scope. The council had no objections. The whole process added three weeks, not months.
Not sure what you need? Call Brad.
Tell him what the tree is doing. He will give you a straight answer on the best way to deal with it. No pitch.