MAKING AN APPLICATION FOR WORK TO PROTECTED TREES

If you wish to do works to a protected tree, including felling it, you need the consent of the Council. It costs nothing to apply, and if the works are reasonable and necessary and do not affect the local amenity adversely, they will usually be allowed. The statutory periods for determining an application are:

Be sure to allow enough time when you apply.
However, our decision may often be well inside these statutory periods. It may be an offence to do works to a protected tree before you have received written consent.

Some questions and answers can be found in the Department for Communities and Local Government booklet found here: ‘Protected Trees: a guide to tree preservation orders’. Alternatively a paper copy can be obtained from us.

Details of the work and your reasons for carrying it out are required under the Tree Preservation Order. The information on this page will help you complete the application form and help the Council understand what you are trying to achieve.

PLEASE NOTE: YOUR APPLICATION, INCLUDING YOUR PERSONAL DETAILS, WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION.

A Conservation Area is an area of special architectural or historic interest where it is desirable to preserve or enhance the special character of that area. This includes the contribution made by trees in the area.
Anyone proposing to cut down or carry out works to a tree in a Conservation Area is required to give the Council six weeks prior notice in writing. It is helpful to us if the notification is made on the TPO application form.
Once the Council has been notified, a site visit will be made. The Tree Officer will make his decision within the six week period. If you have not heard from the Council after six weeks, the work can be carried out.

If you wish to carry out work to protected trees in your garden or a neighbour’s garden, it will first be necessary to submit a written application to the Council.

As from the 1st of October 2008 it is necessary to use the Council’s application form. Guidance of how to fill in the form and a check list which will enable you to ensure all the necessary information has been provided is available below.
Please note: Please ensure that you submit all the relevant information, especially the type and extent of the works that you propose. If forms received do not include all the necessary information including signature and date then the application will be returned for amendment.

Download the forms here:

If you are unsure of the work that is required to be carried out to the tree, then use the services of a tree contractor. They will sometimes give advice for free and may make an application on your behalf. A list of Tree Terms is also available to aid you in filling out the form and ensuring that the necessary information has been provided.

Once the completed form has been received your application will be checked and registered. An acknowledgement card or email will be sent to you.

The Council’s Tree Officer will always make a site visit to assess the proposals. He may inspect the tree from inside and outside the property before making a recommendation.
The Tree Officer will not normally make an appointment to speak to you on site.
Your proposals will be balanced against the tolerances of the tree, the importance of the tree in the landscape and the effect of the proposals on the location to see if they are justified.

You will receive the Tree Officer’s decision in the form of a letter, within the statutory period. The decision will contain details of the tree work the Council is prepared to grant. If permission is refused you will receive a detailed reason for refusal and information about how to appeal.

The cost of any works falls to the tree owner or can be agreed between the various parties. There is no liability on the Council for the cost of the work.

Further advice can be obtained from:

Tree Team
Seaclose Offices
Fairlee Road
NEWPORT
Isle of Wight
PO30 2QS

Tel: 01983 823893
Fax 01983 823851
Email: [email protected]