Arboricultural Development Reports
BS 5837:2012
When planning construction near trees, the requirements within the British Standard: Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction (BS 5837:2012), requires developers to follow a logical sequence of events that has tree care at the heart of the process when a construction project is being planned.
There are usually three stages to this within the planning process and it is best practise to have an arboricultural consultant appointed as early as possible. In some cases all three stages are not required, this is usually a decision for the Local Planning Authority (LPA) and often the final stage can be a requirement of planning consent and be enforced by planning conditions.
Tree Schedule and Tree Constraints Plan
This first stage involves a survey of all trees (and stumps) on the site and within influencing distance of the potential development. This provides architects or whomever is planning the project with the information they need to best consider the trees. It also enables parties to have an awareness for the constraints the trees pose across the development.
Arboricultural Impact Assessment
The project design team works with the arboricultural consultant to keep the impact to trees to a minimum, the Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA) documents this impact in a way that clearly shows the affect of the development on trees. Once designs have been drawn up an impact assessment is used to support a planning application to the Local Planning Authority (LPA), outlining the impact of the development on the trees.
Arboricultural Method Statement and Tree Protection Plan
This stage provides the required details and practical methods to protect trees during the physical development phase of the project, this includes all stages from site preparation to final sign-off.