BS5837 Surveys

Trees growing on or close to existing buildings or on sites proposed for development can be problematic or offer great opportunities in terms of development and construction.

Tree Surveys for Construction Sites

We have decades of combined experience in dealing with and managing trees close to or affecting planning applications.

We work with you and your design team to provide positive outcomes, whether you are adding an extension to an existing building, proposing a multi-unit scheme or dealing with a large infrastructure project, we have the experience to help.

Feasibility of Development
BS5837 Tree Survey for Planning
Arboricultural Impact Assessment
Tree Protection Plans
Tree Management Plans
Arboricultural Method Statement

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Services

How can we help?

As one of the region’s leading Arboricultural Consultancy firms, we often encounter urgent requests due to planning applications already being underway. This urgency arises because the Local Planning Authority may raise concerns about trees and development, potentially causing delays, application revocation, or even refusal.

To avoid these issues and ensure trees and associated constraints are appropriately considered, we recommend reviewing the information below or visiting our guide on the ‘ideal’ approach to commissioning tree assessments for prospective developments.

Our Arboricultural Assessments can be provided as standalone reports or aligned with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Plan of Work (2020). For more details, see the link below:

Trees and Development: A Guide to Commissioning Tree Surveys in Line with BS5837 (2012) and the RIBA Plan of Work (2020).

Tree information for development sites typically falls into four key parts, with the first two focusing on ‘Pre-Planning Approval.’ These provide the essential data that local planning authorities require to make informed decisions.

Tree information for development sites generally falls into three main parts. The first two parts deal with ‘Pre-Planning Approval’ and provide the information that a local planning authority typically needs to enable them to make an informed decision.

Part 1 – Arboricultural (Tree) Constraints, Feasibility, and Opportunities Survey

Part 2 – Arboricultural Impact Assessment and Technical Design

The final parts deal with the information required for ‘Post-Planning Approval’ to ensure that any planning conditions can be met and signed off. Information is provided to ensure the technical design and the construction phase can be achieved.

Part 3 – Arboricultural Method Statement, in addition to Arboricultural Supervision

Part 1

Arboricultural (Tree) Constraints, feasibility, and Opportunities Survey.

An Arboricultural (Tree) Constraints and Opportunities Survey (TCP) assesses the health, structural condition, and expected life span in addition to categorising the quality value of the trees, hedgerows, and woody vegetation on and adjacent to your site, in line with BS5837 (2012).
This enables us to produce plans to reflect the categorisation, tree Root Protection Areas, and the nominal shading, whether pre- or post-veteran, to provide reliable baseline design information as plans, schedules, and/or reports.

Part 2

Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA).

As the scheme becomes better defined and the design is refined, the Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA) enables the losses, protection requirements and the requirements for replacement trees to be better understood.

This assessment provides a review of the design and its effect on the tree population. It sets out tree removals and pruning associated with the scheme and highlights which trees can/will be retained. The plan and schedule provide information to help support planning applications with your local planning authority and is prepared in line with BS5837 (2012).

As the scheme becomes better defined and the design is refined, the Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA) enables the losses, protection requirements and the requirements for replacement trees to be better understood.

This assessment provides a review of the design and its effect on the tree population. It sets out tree removals and pruning associated with the scheme and highlights which trees can/will be retained. The plan and schedule provide information to help support planning applications with your local planning authority and is prepared in line with BS5837 (2012).

Part 3

Arboricultural Method Statement.

An Arboricultural Method Statement (AMS) is a much more comprehensive report than either a Constraints or Arboricultural Impact Assessment reports; an AMS fully details the working methodologies and specifications relating to tree protection and also covers any development works in close proximity to retained trees. These are often conditioned for approved reserved matters and full applications, but some Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) may require an AMS to be submitted and approved before approving development on more contentious schemes.
The AMS covers proposed tree surgery works, installation of tree protection measures (fencing and any required ground protection measures), works within Root Protection Areas, materials and construction details, arboricultural supervision, working methods, key personnel, and timeframes for implementation.
Being able to complete an AMS to the standard required by LPAs requires not only good arboricultural knowledge, but also knowledge of construction techniques, materials and phasing and as result we think of the AMS as a joint venture between us, you and your design and construction team, if poorly prepared the AMS can cause costly delays by restricting access or limiting movement of materials and plant. Our arboricultural team have a wide experience of the construction industry and how arboricultural techniques interact with it. We have a successful track record in providing clients with AMS reports that are readily approved by LPAs, whether it is an extension, a major development or large-scale infrastructure.

Part 4

Arboricultural Supervision.

Some development activities require supervision by an arboriculturist to ensure that retained trees are protected during construction works, from signing off and checking Tree Protection Fencing to undertaking sensitive works within a tree’s Root Protection Area (RPA) or Construction Exclusion Zones (CEZ).
Arboricultural supervision is very often conditioned as part of planning consent. For example, our arboriculturists are experienced in undertaking Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) or supervising soil excavations to determine the presence and absence of tree roots within tree RPAs and where roots are found we can undertake root pruning where we have assessed this is not detrimental to the health and stability of the tree. This approach can often allow traditional construction methods to be used, where without this evidence base, planning permission may be refused.
Our arboriculturists have supervised a range of development sites, including the supervision of installation of above ground drives, no-dig roads and footways, and low impact methods of service and utility installation. Whatever your arboricultural supervision needs are, we can help with specifying and undertaking these to enable planning condition compliance and discharge.

Part 1

Arboricultural (Tree) Constraints, feasibility, and Opportunities Survey.

An Arboricultural (Tree) Constraints and Opportunities Survey (TCP) assesses the health, structural condition, and expected life span in addition to categorising the quality value of the trees, hedgerows, and woody vegetation on and adjacent to your site, in line with BS5837 (2012).
This enables us to produce plans to reflect the categorisation, tree Root Protection Areas, and the nominal shading, whether pre- or post-veteran, to provide reliable baseline design information as plans, schedules, and/or reports.

Part 2

Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA).

As the scheme becomes better defined and the design is refined, the Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA) enables the losses, protection requirements and the requirements for replacement trees to be better understood.

This assessment provides a review of the design and its effect on the tree population. It sets out tree removals and pruning associated with the scheme and highlights which trees can/will be retained. The plan and schedule provide information to help support planning applications with your local planning authority and is prepared in line with BS5837 (2012).

Part 3

Arboricultural Method Statement.

An Arboricultural Method Statement (AMS) is a much more comprehensive report than either a Constraints or Arboricultural Impact Assessment reports; an AMS fully details the working methodologies and specifications relating to tree protection and also covers any development works in close proximity to retained trees. These are often conditioned for approved reserved matters and full applications, but some Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) may require an AMS to be submitted and approved before approving development on more contentious schemes.
The AMS covers proposed tree surgery works, installation of tree protection measures (fencing and any required ground protection measures), works within Root Protection Areas, materials and construction details, arboricultural supervision, working methods, key personnel, and timeframes for implementation.
Being able to complete an AMS to the standard required by LPAs requires not only good arboricultural knowledge, but also knowledge of construction techniques, materials and phasing and as result we think of the AMS as a joint venture between us, you and your design and construction team, if poorly prepared the AMS can cause costly delays by restricting access or limiting movement of materials and plant. Our arboricultural team have a wide experience of the construction industry and how arboricultural techniques interact with it. We have a successful track record in providing clients with AMS reports that are readily approved by LPAs, whether it is an extension, a major development or large-scale infrastructure.

Part 4

Arboricultural Supervision.

Some development activities require supervision by an arboriculturist to ensure that retained trees are protected during construction works, from signing off and checking Tree Protection Fencing to undertaking sensitive works within a tree’s Root Protection Area (RPA) or Construction Exclusion Zones (CEZ).
Arboricultural supervision is very often conditioned as part of planning consent. For example, our arboriculturists are experienced in undertaking Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) or supervising soil excavations to determine the presence and absence of tree roots within tree RPAs and where roots are found we can undertake root pruning where we have assessed this is not detrimental to the health and stability of the tree. This approach can often allow traditional construction methods to be used, where without this evidence base, planning permission may be refused.
Our arboriculturists have supervised a range of development sites, including the supervision of installation of above-ground drives, no-dig roads and footways, and low-impact methods of service and utility installation. Whatever your arboricultural supervision needs are, we can help with specifying and undertaking these to enable planning condition compliance and discharge.

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BIM – Building Information Modelling

BIM (Building Information Modelling) focuses on seamless data sharing and collaboration. We actively share and coordinate our information with consultants and team members, helping to reduce costs and streamline project delivery. Additionally, we can provide bespoke plots and visuals tailored to your specific needs upon request.