Tree preservation orders
(Also known as: TPO's)
Information about tree preservation orders.
Charges:
£36 per copy of a Tree Preservation Order.
Ways To Pay:
Send a cheque to the trees team or make an appointment with the trees team to purchase the document at the Gateway reception.
Ways To Apply:
Please click the link in the text below for a 1APP form, the new application form. A form is also available to download to purchase a copy of a tree preservation order.
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:
A tree preservation order (TPO) protects individual trees, groups of trees and woodlands. It prevents trees from being lopped, topped, pruned, uprooted or damaged in any way without prior permission from the Local Authority. There are over 400 TPOs in Southampton.
Each order can cover a series of trees in an area, for example an order may cover a small woodland, several individual trees and a group of trees. Approximately 3,320 individual trees, 1,733 groups of trees, 177 areas of trees and 81 woodlands in the city are covered by TPOs.
Find out if a tree is protected by completing the online form or, call Actionline or email the Trees team. A 1APP application form can be printed or can be completed online.
Guidance notes about making a tree works application can be viewed and printed. Notes about making a tree works application online are also available to view and print.
Please note that pruning a TPO tree without permission can lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500 and destroying a TPO tree without permission can lead to a fine of up to £20,000. Further guidance can be found on the ODPM website.
In certain circumstances trees may be exempt from the protection of a tree preservation order or conservation area. Exemption applies when the tree or parts of the tree are dead, dying or dangerous. In this situation there is no need to apply for permission, or to notify the council of your intention to carry out works. However it will be up to the person pruning the tree to prove that the tree was dead, dying or dangerous. Therefore if you intend to carry out work on a tree in this situation you should give the council five days notice by contacting the Tree Team.
If you suspect a protected tree is causing subsidence to your property contact your building insurance company. There are a number of causes of subsidence, trees are not the only cause for damage. It is essential to establish the cause of the damage.
A copy of a TPO can be purchased or an appointment can be made with the Tree Team to view the document in the Gateway reception.
Last updated: 2 October 2008
