Development site surveys
The work carried out would be undertaken in accordance with BS 5837 Trees in Relation to Construction – Recommendations 2005 as this is the most likely format that will required by any planning department and for the consultant to provide the most complete information to fully support your application.
This involves producing a survey of the trees (accompanied by a plan identifying each tree with a number) highlighting not only their condition but suitability to be retained (indicated by one of four categories) if development goes ahead. This information is then used to produce a Tree Constraints Plan (TCP) which identifies any constraints posed by the trees to development and is used to inform the final design of the development site.
Following agreement on the final design the arboriculturist would produce a report assessing the Arboricultural Implications (AIA) of the final design and then produce an Arboricultural Method Statement (AMS) and Tree Protection Plan (TPP) detailing the mitigation and protection measures required to support any application. This paperwork would then be submitted along with the tree survey detail and the other planning details as an application to the Planning Authority.
The work could be carried out in phases.
First Phase
Number the trees on the plan and produce a tree survey in a schedule format and a tree constraints plan.
Tree information required
► Tree Ref No
► Species
► Height (m)
► Stem Diameter (mm)
► Branch Spread (m)
► Height of Crown Clearance (m)
► Age Class
► Physiological condition
► Structural condition
► Preliminary Management recommendations
► Estimated remaining life contribution - years
► R or A to C Category grading in accordance with the Cascade chart
Tree Constraints Plan to show details related to the most important trees on site
► Root Protection Area (RPA) – square metres
► Crown spread – 4 points of the compass
► Future branch growth
► Current Height
► Ultimate height
► Shadow pattern through the main part of the day
A number of neighbouring trees may need to be included in the survey because they may present constraints to the development.
Second phase – deciding the Final Design, this may require my involvement or not.
Attend a design team meeting and assist the design knowing the Arboricultural implications of the site based on the TCP - optional.
Third Phase
Production of the AIA, AMS and a TPP based on the final design to support your application The more you keep away from the trees the easier and less complicated and therefore less time consuming in terms of my input.
Should the design compromise the trees to a large extent requiring additional arboricultural/engineering solutions above the norm then this will add to the input required. One should also allow a small monetary sum for any additional work that may have to be done after submission and before planning consent is given. (If the design is appropriate there should not be any additional input requirement)