Protected Trees
Trees may be protected under the Town & Country Planning Act by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). A TPO makes it an offence to wilfully damage or destroy a protected tree. Anyone wishing to prune any living part of the tree or to cut the tree down requires the planning authority’s written permission. A TPO can protect a single tree, a group of trees, woodland or a defined area.
TPOs can be made by the Council at any time therefore it is always best to check a trees current status before undertaking any work.
A new TPO takes provisional effect for a period of six months. During the first 28 days of this period any interested party can comment on the new order and all valid written submissions received during this period will be considered before confirming the TPO.
Applications to work on protected trees must be made in writing. The team then has 8 weeks from the date of receipt to process and respond to the request. Please use the application form provided and you will receive an acknowledgment. Although the Council has a maximum of 8 weeks to process your enquiry the normal timescale is often shorter than that. Guidance for use when applying for tree works is also available.
There are currently a number of conservation areas in Bracknell and if your property is within one of these then you are required to give the Council written notice of your intention to prune or remove any trees on your property or that of your neighbours.
All trees within these conservation areas (above a certain size) are automatically protected. If any stem on the tree is larger than 7.5 centimetres diameter when measured at 1.5 metres above ground level – then it is automatically protected and an application form must be submitted.
Once you have notified the Council, it has 6 weeks in which to respond; either by not objecting to your proposal or by making a TPO. Please use the application form provided and you will receive an acknowledgment. Although the Council has a maximum of 6 weeks to process your enquiry the normal timescale is often shorter than that.
Sometimes the planning authority will attach certain requirements to a planning permission and these are referred to as planning conditions. These conditions might relate to the trees or other significant vegetation on your property and could require you to maintain them, or even to replace them in the event they die or have been removed. Before you do any work to them, you may require the Council's consent. To find out if there are any planning conditions affecting your property, visit the Planning Application section of this website and contact the Planning Department in writing at:
Planning Services
Environment, Culture and Communities
Time Square
Market Street
Bracknell
RG12 1JD
Ex-Council Properties
Properties that have been sold by the Council routinely have a restrictive covenant applied to the title deeds which means that the Council's consent is required before the owner can carry out certain work. If your property is subject to a restrictive covenant you will need to apply to the Council for consent.
Applications to work on protected trees must be made in writing using the application form provided. Guidance on completing this form is also available.
Covenants - General Information
Covenants can be applied by any land owner at the point of sale and they can cover a wide range of features not only trees and vegetation. The Council is only responsible for administering covenants that it has applied. Covenants that have been applied by developers or other previous land owners do not form part of the Tree Services remit, and the Council does not have any record of such covenants. That information is kept on the title deeds to your property.
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