BS 5837 Trees and Development Surveys
The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 makes it a duty of the Local Planning Authority to ensure that adequate provision is made for the protection of trees, both through the use of planning conditions and of TPOs. Local Plans also include policies relating to trees and often include requirements to protect existing trees and secure planting of new ones. In addition, issues concerning roosting bats and nesting birds also need addressing. Therefore there is often a requirement for a developer to commission a tree survey for a given site.
The most widely recognized method of tree survey follows BS 5837 which provides guidelines for assessing likely effects of a proposed development and advises on reasonable measures for safeguarding valuable trees. Using these guidelines a Visual Tree Assessment (VTA) is undertaken of all trees within a site boundary. Data is collected regarding physical characteristics of each species and whether the tree is the subject of a TPO or lies within a Conservation Area. Each tree is mapped and classified depending on how desirable its retention is and an arboricultural method statement is produced describing measures to be taken to ensure protection of all trees to be retained.
A typical BS 5837: Trees and Development map, showing canopy spread and shading on an August day at 10.00am
At Andrew McCarthy Associates we have trained arboriculturists who are also licensed bat workers. Thus we are in the unique position of being able to offer our clients a survey combining assessment of trees under BS5837 as well as a protected species survey - thereby saving project costs and reducing potential for delays.