Trees

Street tree pruning and planning

The Council manages over 7,000  street trees. This involves planting new trees and removing old, dead, dying or dangerous trees if necessary. We also prune the street trees to ensure free passage for pedestrians and vehicles using the public highway as well as providing adequate clearance from properties, whilst retaining a pleasing and balanced appearance.  We employ a contractor to undertake this work for us.

If you wish to report a dangerous or overgrown tree, please either e-mail us at planning@rbkc.gov.uk, or call 020 7361 3012 during normal office hours or if it is outside normal office hours, ring 020 7361 3000

Tree strategy

The aim of the Tree Strategy is to ensure that trees are planted, preserved and maintained in accordance with sound arboricultural practices while regarding their contribution to the amenity and the urban landscape for both current and future generations. You can download the Tree Strategy below, or you can request a hard copy by ringing the Planning Information desk on 020 7361 3012.

Trees and Development

Trees are at risk from the pressures of development. In determining a planning application where trees may be affected, Planning Officers will seek the opinion of the Arboricultural Section to assist in the decision making process.

Trees that are to be retained through the course of building works may need protection. The above ground parts of trees are vulnerable to harm by the erection of scaffolding or by heavy vehicles. The roots are vulnerable to excavation for foundations and services, compaction of soil through heavy vehicle movement, and by contamination from toxic building materials.

Council policy is generally to resist the loss of trees and is guided by the British Standard document BS5837:2005 ‘Trees in relation to construction – Recommendations’.

The provision of new trees on a development site is an integral part of the Council’s approach to considering planning applications and more often than not, if trees are to be removed the Council will seek replacement planting.

Tree Preservation Orders

A Tree Preservation Order (TPO) gives a tree legal protection and makes it an offence to cut any part of the tree, including the roots, without having first obtained Council permission. Trees in Conservation Areas are also protected by the law. If you deliberately destroy a protected tree, or damage it in a manner likely to destroy it, you could be fined up to £20,000 if convicted in the magistrates’ court. For other offences you could be fined up to £2,500.

You can find out if any trees on your land are the subject of a TPO or situated in a Conservation Area by ringing the planning help line on 020 7361 3012 or by visiting the Planning Information Desk at the Town Hall.

Copies of TPOs are available from the Planning department. You can obtain a copy by writing to Planning and Borough Development, Records Section, Town Hall, Hornton Street, W8 7NX or by e-mailing planning@rbkc.gov.uk. Copies of Tree Preservation Orders are charged at £17.

For further guidance on TPOs, see the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) guidance notes (external link, opens a new window)

Tree applications and decisions

Most tree work will require you to make an application for approval before carrying it out. You will always require permission to work on a tree if the trunk has a diameter greater than 75mm (measured at 1.5 metres above the ground), and is growing in a Conservation Area or is covered by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). Complete the following form to apply for tree works to trees subject to a Tree Preservation Order or located in a conservation area: Application for Tree Works [PDF file] (file size 230Kb)

There is no charge to submit a tree works application.

Search for Tree Decisions

You can search for tree planning decisions for works to trees since May 2004: online search form

Please note that tree decisions that are shown as ‘refused’ may be subject to appeal or have been overturned on appeal.

Search for Tree Applications

You can search for tree applications that have been submitted in the last six months: online search form

Alternatively, every Friday we prepare a list of all tree applications registered in the previous week. If you would like to receive regular notifications of tree applications in your area, you can subscribe to receive these lists by e-mail. Click here to sign up to our Email Notification service.

You may comment on applications by e-mail, quoting the planning application number, to planning@rbkc.gov.uk. In all communications, please ensure that you quote the reference number of the application you are writing about.

Advice on tree works

The Council does not have a list of Approved Tree Surgeons but recommends that residents use the Arboricultural Association’s ‘Approved Contractors List’.

Similarly for arboricultural advice the same organisation provides a list of ’Approved Consultants’.

You are strongly advised never to employ workers who knock on your door offering their services as they often overcharge, do illegal and poor quality work and breach health and safety rules.

If you require advice please call the Council‘s Arboricultural Section on 020 7361 2767.