A Tree Preservation Order (TPO) places a legal obligation on the owner of a tree to obtain consent from the local planning authority before carrying out any work on it. Understanding what you can and cannot do — and how to apply for consent correctly — is important for anyone who owns or manages a tree that is subject to an order. Arbortech Professional Tree Services has extensive experience of working with TPO trees across Somerset and can guide you through the process.
We cover Taunton, Yeovil, Martock, Ilminster, Bridgwater, Wellington, Somerton and all surrounding towns and villages. Free, no-obligation site visits are available, and written quotations are provided on request.
What Is a Tree Preservation Order?
A TPO is made by a local planning authority to protect specific trees or groups of trees that are considered to make a significant contribution to the local environment and amenity. Once an order is in place, it is a criminal offence to cut down, uproot, top, lop, willfully damage or willfully destroy a protected tree without the written consent of the local planning authority.
TPOs can apply to individual trees, groups of trees, areas of woodland, or trees forming part of a woodland. They are registered with the local planning authority and remain attached to the land, passing to new owners on sale of a property.
Applying for Consent to Work on a TPO Tree
If you need to carry out work on a tree covered by a TPO, you must submit a formal application to the local planning authority and wait for written consent before any work takes place. The application should describe the tree, the work proposed and the reasons for it. Supporting information — such as a report from a qualified arborist — can strengthen the application, particularly where the work is needed on safety or tree health grounds.
The planning authority will typically respond within eight weeks, though straightforward applications are often decided more quickly. Consent may be granted in full, granted with conditions, or refused.
Exempt Work
A small number of operations do not require consent even on TPO trees. These include the removal of dead branches, work necessary to prevent or abate a nuisance, and work required in an emergency to remove an immediate risk of harm. However, these exemptions are narrowly defined and should not be relied upon without careful consideration. Our arborists can advise you on whether a proposed operation falls within an exemption.
How Arbortech Can Help
We can assess your tree, advise on what work is appropriate and justified, assist with preparing a supporting arborist’s report for the planning authority, and carry out the approved work to the required standard once consent is in place. All work complies with BS 3998 and is backed by full public liability insurance. We are approved contractors for Somerset County Council and the Duchy of Cornwall.
TPO Tree Work Across Somerset
If you have a tree you believe may be subject to a preservation order, or if you have received notification that a TPO has been made on a tree on your land, we are happy to visit and advise on the implications and the correct process for any work you have in mind.
