Trees in relation to construction
(Also known as: BS5837)
Information about British Standard (BS5837) will assist when making a planning application on land which has trees.
Contact Details:
Address: Trees Team,
Open Spaces Team,
Southampton City Council,
Ground Floor, Civic Centre,
Southampton
Postcode: SO14 7NG
Telephone: 0800 5 19 19 19
Minicom: 023 8083 2789
Email: trees@southampton.gov.uk
Fax: 023 8023 1384
Details of service:
All trees, regardless of their protected status, can be a material consideration in a planning application.
This means that where there are trees either on site or within close proximity to the site the Council as Local Planning Authority will consider them when making decisions on planning applications for that site.
Appropriate trees of good quality and value can greatly enhance new development, such as providing an immediate sense of maturity to the site. Trees also have many other social and environmental benefits. Trees reduce noise in cities by acting as a sound barrier. They also absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
It is therefore very important that an early assessment of the trees on and near to the site is carried out to identify appropriate trees for retention. The retained trees can then make up part of a tree constraints plan. This can be used by the development design team to help guide the design of the scheme.
The early availability of a tree constraints plan to the development design team will help to benefit the developer by:
Reducing redesign time as trees will be identified before the initial design is drawn up
Reducing the risk of applications not being registered by Development Control
Reducing the risk of tree issues being raised during the planning application process
Increasing the speed at which tree issues can be dealt with during the application process
In order to help the development process the British Standard BS5837:2005 has recently been updated. In September 2005 the most recent version of the British Standard "Trees in relation to construction - Recommendations" BS5837:2005 came into being. This standard recommends the steps that should be taken to ensure that trees are appropriately and successfully retained when a development takes place.
Southampton City Council therefore expects all planning applications to follow the processes set out in the British Standard Recommendation in order to ensure that trees are considered within the design, construction and future management of development sites.
When making an application Southampton City Council will expect the following evidence to be included where trees are identified on or near to the site:
An accurately measured land plot survey (see section 4.1 of BS5837:2005)
A tree survey (see section 4.2 of BS5837:2005)
A plan showing root protection areas and any above ground constraints (see section 5.2 and 5.3 of BS5837:2005)
An Arboricultural implications assessment (see section 6 of BS5837:2005)
An Arboricultural method statement including a tree protection plan (see section 7 of BS5837:2005)
An An appropriately designed development plan showing all relevant tree information (see section 7.1f of BS5837:2005)
Failure to supply the above evidence could lead to the planning application not being registered or otherwise delayed.
BS5837:2005 supersedes BS5837:1991 and arboricultural information submitted under the old standard will no longer be accepted by Southampton City Council.
For further information about BS5837:2005 and purchasing copies of this document please view the British Standards Institute web site.
For further information on arboricultural surveys and assessments and a list of Arboricultural Association approved consultants please view the Arboricultural Association web site.
Last updated: 20 December 2007
