Overhanging vegetation
If overgrown or overhanging vegetation is causing an obstruction to the highway it should be removed and disposed of responsibly to ensure the highway remains safe for all its users.
Most work required to overhanging vegetation is of a relatively minor nature and can be readily undertaken by the owner or property occupier responsible.
Vegetation can grow very quickly especially during warm wet summer months, it is recommended that consideration is made for this when undertaking maintenance work.
Where significant tree work is required it is recommended that this be carried out to British Standard BS3998.
Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) provide protection for designated trees both from removal or significant pruning. Highway safety is vital and permission is not necessary for safety work covered by an exemption and/or work covered under a section 154 notice issued by our Highways teams. Please note that it is your responsibility to check if permission is required before carrying out work. For further advice please call 023 8083 3005 or email our trees team on trees@southampton.gov.uk.
Disposal of vegetation
Any 'green' vegetation or cuttings can be taken to the Southampton Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) in Millbrook for composting. This is free of charge to all household residents within the city if you go to the recycling centre in person. If you have employed a contractor to do the work they may make a charge for disposal.
Garden waste bins may also be used to dispose of small hedge and shrub cuttings as well as branches up to 7.5cm in diameter.
Report council-owned overgrown hedges or other vegetation
You can report council-owned hedges overhanging the road or footpath using our online form:
Before you fill in this form
You won't be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself a couple of minutes to fill in the form.
Report privately-owned overgrown hedges or other vegetation
You can report privately-owned hedges or trees overhanging the road or footpath using our online form. Please select 'obstruction' from the initial dropdown in the form:
Before you fill in this form
You won't be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself up to five minutes to fill in the form.
Failure to comply
Under Section 154 of the Highways Act 1980, this authority has the power not only to serve notice to cut back offending vegetation, but also to carry out the work itself and recover all costs incurred. If you fail to remove the offending vegetation, a formal notice would be given of this next stage of action but it is hoped that the timely cooperation of residents will make this unnecessary.
