Request for a new Tree Preservation Order (TPO)

A TPO is a part of town and country planning in the United Kingdom. A TPO is made by a Local Planning Authority to protect specific trees or a particular area, group or woodland from deliberate damage and destruction.

TPOs can prevent the felling, lopping, topping, uprooting or otherwise willful damaging of trees without the permission of the Local Planning Authority.

The main reasons that we would not serve TPO’s are;

  1. The tree is within the gardens of the people who request the order, as we consider these trees “protected” by virtue of their ownership by someone who clearly values them.
  2. We would not normally consider TPO for any young or non established trees

Criteria for TPO requests

In order to warrant a TPO, we would normally consider three main criteria:

Setting

Is the tree in a “sensible” location?  For example we would not TPO a large tree (or a tree with the potential to get large) which is too close to a building or structure and has the potential to cause an unacceptable nuisance / obstruction.  Our experience is that such TPO’s are not prudent in the longer term.

Health

We would only TPO trees of good health, and not trees that are dead / dying or dangerous.

Visual amenity/screening

We would only TPO trees that offer a certain amount of perceived visual amenity; for example we would not TPO a small tree in a back garden that cannot be enjoyed by the wider public. We may consider trees for TPO’s if they offer useful screening.  

Any such requests must come in writing to trees@richmond.gov.uk or by post.

A full response will be sent within 20 working days.

Urgent requests

TPOs can be made very quickly however if time does not permit (i.e. it is felt that the tree is to be cut down that day) it is normal for a council to make an emergency TPO in cases of immediate danger to trees.

Only in this circumstance will we will then consider verbal requests for any tree to be the subject of a TPO request when the tree must be under a realistic threat from removal / severe or drastic pruning.  

An example of this would be if a property developer has just bought a piece of land to build on and trees are present.

Request Work on Private Trees: Imminent Safety Concern

  • If you believe your tree is dead, dying or dangerous and the tree is in a conservation area or has a tree preservation order attached to it please complete a tree works application which takes up to 8 weeks.
  • If you are unsure if your tree is protected please contact us.·
  • If you feel the tree you own presents an immediate danger or to you, your property or users of adjacent sites, you may wish to consider the 5 day dead, dying or dangerous notification as an alternative to the formal tree works application process.
  • If your tree is dead/dying/or dangerous you do not legally need to advise the council, however it is good practice under the town and country planning act to submit a 5 day notification to avoid any potential prosecution action from the local authority following completion of the works.
  • If you have a dead, dying or dangerous tree please advise us in writing providing us with as much evidence as possible, we recommend you seek professional advice from a qualified arborist before contacting us.  
  • If the 5 day dead, dying or dangerous notification is submitted without professional advice or evidence and we believe the tree is not imminently dangerous, we may refuse the notification and ask you to go through the formal process of completing a tree works application. It is therefore important to submit this information first time to avoid any unnecessary delays with your application.  

Any such requests must come in writing to trees@richmond.gov.uk or by post.

Imminently dangerous

If a tree is imminently dangerous (e.g.. a hanging limb), 5 days may be too long, and therefore we would still request that you inform the local authority via telephone / email, if necessary taking photographs of the dangerous part to avoid any issues later on.

Contact

Any such requests must come in writing to trees@richmond.gov.uk or by post at:

Richmond Council
Trees Department

Civic Centre
44 York Street
Twickenham
TW1 3BZ