Tree Survey craziness....

[diesel75]

Hi

As part of our planning permission, we require a tree survey bs5837 done. The tree (TPO) in question is an Acer at the front of the house (no where near the work being done). We will be putting a fence around this as required, however the council want us to have a tree survey done, in which the end result will be that we have to put a fence around that tree. We have spoken to the council, they have said yes that will be the end result, but they want it done anyway. All the quotes we had are all over £1000. The situation seems ridiculous, so my question is:

Is this something I can do myself?
Any other advice ?

Thanks
Darren

 

[^woody^]

You can certianly do your own tree survey. Include the main points and then it does not matter how crap it is, it's still a survey.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

£1000 is bonkers, there will be a cheap tree hugger somewhere.

 

[diesel75]

You can certianly do your own tree survey. Include the main points and then it does not matter how crap it is, it's still a survey.

very true, whether the council will accept it or not is another matter!

 

[^woody^]

very true, whether the council will accept it or not is another matter!

They have to accept it, it's a report. There is no planning basis not to accept such a report.

I doubt that the council can legitimately even specify that it must follow BS5837, as all that does is promote good practice and is not a criteria for a satisfactory tree report. But if your report follows this, then they can't grumble.

BTW, tree reports tend to have many pages because the author wants to give the impression that he has earned his pay. But when you read them, they are 90% cut and paste superfulous waffle to pad it out.

Tailor your report to that tree, and if the works dont impact on it, state this.

 

[Nakajo]

Oh god, I find myself agreeing with Woody again. I think I have to go lie down.

 

[diesel75]

£1000 is bonkers, there will be a cheap tree hugger somewhere.

struggling to find one though...

 

[^woody^]

Oh god, I find myself agreeing with Woody again. I think I have to go lie down.

No. Stand up, and be counted

 

[tony1851]

This is an increasing problem since Google Earth came out. Bods in the admin. department look the address up on G.E. and if there is anything bigger than a dandelion they just bang out a standard letter asking for a tree survey.
Rest assured that no-one in the planning department ever reads these things - it's just that they enjoy their little power trip of making you spend
£££s on a load of worthless cut-and-paste before they will even register your application.

 

[Supersax]

They have to accept it, it's a report. There is no planning basis not to accept such a report.

I doubt that the council can legitimately even specify that it must follow BS5837, as all that does is promote good practice and is not a criteria for a satisfactory tree report. But if your report follows this, then they can't grumble.

BTW, tree reports tend to have many pages because the author wants to give the impression that he has earned his pay. But when you read them, they are 90% cut and paste superfulous waffle to pad it out.

Tailor your report to that tree, and if the works dont impact on it, state this.

Agree that most tree reports are padded waffle, but I don't accept that they have to accept it. They are quite within their rights to invalidate an application because it comes in with a generic tree report, rather than an accurate, site specific, report. Also you need to remember that the Council will seek the opinion of their Arboriculturalist, so if an applicant fails to satisfactorily demonstrate that the proposal will not adversely impact a TPO'd tree, he may recommend that the proposal is refused.

 

[^woody^]

They are quite within their rights to invalidate an application because it comes in with a generic tree report, rather than an accurate, site specific

Obviously, the OP will submit a site specific report.

 

[jono_h]

I carried out my own tree survey for my PP. I think I used a spare OS plan, marked the position of anything significant with species and (a guesstimate of) the size.

It was a few years back, but wasn't queried.

 

[cjard]

Do you want me to provide you with a copy of the tree survey from my most recent app? You can cut and paste it to your heart's desire..

 

[diesel75]

Do you want me to provide you with a copy of the tree survey from my most recent app? You can cut and paste it to your heart's desire..

That would be great if you could!!

 

[cjard]

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