Tree Surveys for Planning
BS5837 tree surveys for planning in North Yorkshire and County Durham. Tree schedule, category plan and written quote for developers, landowners and homeowners. NPTC and LANTRA qualified.
Send the site details and what you are planning to build. We will tell you what survey you need and quote it in writing. No hidden costs.
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- NPTC qualified
- LANTRA qualified
- £10M public liability insurance
- Constructionline Gold certified
- RAMS as standard
BS5837 tree survey
When you apply for planning permission and trees are on or near the site, the planning authority needs to know how the development affects them. A tree survey for planning answers that. It records every tree that could be affected, works out what each one means for the layout, and sets out which trees are kept and how they are protected.
The survey follows the BS5837 standard, the British Standard for trees in relation to design, demolition and construction. Planning officers in North Yorkshire and County Durham expect reports in that form. Follow the standard and the application has what it needs. Skip it and the application can stall while the authority asks for more information.
A survey is not a tree report. A tree report tells you about one tree. An arboricultural survey covers every tree on or near the site and works out what they mean for the work you are planning. The same BS5837 survey serves developers, landowners and homeowners — the trigger is the planning authority asking for it, or a landowner wanting a documented record of what is on their land.
When you need a survey
Developers, landowners and homeowners all need one for the same reason: the planning authority asks for it. The trigger is usually one of these:
- A planning condition
- The authority has said a tree survey is required before the application is approved or before work starts on site.
- New development
- Housing, commercial buildings, driveways and access roads on land with trees.
- Extensions and conversions
- House extensions, barn conversions and outbuildings where trees stand close to the building work.
- Protected trees
- A Tree Preservation Order or Conservation Area does not stop development, but the trees are part of the planning decision.
- Site management
- Landowners and managers who need a record of the trees on their land and their condition, for maintenance planning or liability records.
- Tree condition
- Where a tree is showing dieback, decay or structural issues, the survey records its condition and places it in a category, so the decision on retention or removal is made on evidence.
If you are not sure whether your project needs a survey, ask. Send us the site details and what you are planning to build. We will tell you what survey you need and quote it in writing.
What the survey covers
We survey to BS5837. The report gives the planning authority what it needs to make a decision.
- Every tree on the site
- Species, height, spread, condition and life stage for each tree that could be affected by the development, including trees on neighbouring land where their roots or canopy reach the site.
- BS5837 categories
- Each tree is placed in a category. Category U trees should be removed. Category A trees are high value and should be retained and protected. Category B trees are good quality and should be retained where possible. Category C trees are low value.
- Tree schedule
- A numbered schedule listing every surveyed tree with its measurements and category, so the report can be checked against the site.
- Site plan
- A plan of the site showing where each tree stands and its category, with the root protection areas of the retained trees.
- Constraints
- What the trees mean for the layout: how much space the retained trees need, where protection fencing goes, and which trees can come out.
How the survey is done
- Site visit. We visit the site and record every tree in scope. Surveying happens on site, not from drawings.
- Data collection. Each tree is measured and assessed: species, height, spread, condition, age class and any structural issues.
- Report. The findings are written up to BS5837 with the tree schedule, the site plan and the category ratings.
- Handover. You get the finished report, ready to submit with the planning application.
After the survey
The report tells you what the site needs. Category U trees should be removed. Category C trees can come out where the layout needs the space. Retained trees get protection fencing and root protection areas while construction runs.
We carry out that tree work ourselves. The survey identifies the work; we quote and execute it. Removal, pruning, stump grinding and site clearance are all part of what we do. One contractor from survey to site clearance means the report and the work stay aligned.
The survey does not decide the planning application. No survey does. What it does is give the authority the information it needs, in the form it expects, so the application can be decided on its merits.
BS5837 tree survey
We carry out BS5837 tree surveys for planning across County Durham and North Yorkshire. The survey is quoted per survey: the price depends on the size of the site, the number of trees to record and the access. A single garden tree for a house extension is a different job from a site of a hundred trees for a housing development.
We confirm the price in writing before the survey is booked. The written quote sets out what the survey covers and what the report includes. No hidden costs.
Qualifications and cover. BS5837 tree surveys with a tree schedule and site plan. NPTC and LANTRA qualified. £10M public liability insurance. Written quote before work starts.
What customers ask
Common questions
What is a tree survey for planning?
A survey of the trees on or near a development site, carried out to BS5837. It records each tree, places it in a category and produces a tree schedule and site plan that the planning authority uses to decide the application.
Do I need a tree survey for my planning application?
If trees are on or near the site, the planning authority will normally ask for one, often as a planning condition. If you are not sure, send us the site details and what you are planning to build and we will tell you what you need.
How long does the survey report take?
It depends on the size of the site and the number of trees. We confirm the timescale when we quote. The report is written after the site visit and you get it ready to submit.
What does a tree survey for planning cost?
Quoted per survey. The price depends on the site size, the number of trees and the access. We confirm the price in writing before the survey is booked. No hidden costs.
Do you carry out the tree work after the survey?
Yes. The survey identifies the work and we quote and carry it out: removals, pruning, stump grinding and site clearance. The report and the work stay aligned because one contractor does both.
What are the BS5837 categories?
Category U trees should be removed. Category A trees are high value and should be retained and protected. Category B trees are good quality and should be retained where possible. Category C trees are low value.
Who needs an arboricultural survey?
Anyone planning work on land with trees. Developers, landowners and homeowners all use them: for planning applications, development sites, site management records and assessing tree condition. If you are not sure whether you need one, send us the site details and we will tell you.
Need a tree survey for your site?
Send the site details and what you are planning to build. We will tell you what survey you need and quote it in writing. No hidden costs.