Tree Surveys
What type of Survey do you require?
What is a tree survey?
Tree surveys can be conducted for various purposes, including health and safety assessments, mortgage applications, and to comply with local authority requirements regarding protected trees. Landowners and developers typically require a tree survey report to analyse the impact of a development on an area and its immediate surroundings. A tree survey is conducted to assess all present trees and trees inspected on a site, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of their condition and implications for the property.
Tree reports provide detailed information regarding the extent to which trees or vegetation will have implications for a proposed development, either through direct occupation of an area that is to be developed on, or on space adjacent to properties that are to be developed.
A professional tree survey will detail all the information about the trees and vegetation on a site and help determine what is to be retained and those that are required to be removed. The survey collects tree survey data such as unique identification numbers, species names, dimensions, structural and physiological condition, retention categories, and management recommendations. This data is usually compiled into a tree schedule or spreadsheet.
A standard tree schedule records identification, dimensions, age class, condition, retention categories, and management recommendations for each tree. A tree survey is extremely useful in that they allow proper informed decisions to be made. A professional tree surveyor or arborist will usually work to the British Standard BS5837.
A typical tree survey will usually outline the following:
- Detail of all the species of tree on site and their specific location
- Measurements of each tree including height and diameter
- The approximate age of the tree
- Condition, health and life expectancy of the tree
- Recommendations on the status of the tree i.e. whether it is to be retained, removed or requires work
- Tree constraints plan drawings to illustrate potential constraints posed by existing trees
Types of Tree Survey we carry out
Tree surveys are tailored to meet a variety of needs, with each type serving a specific purpose for property owners, developers, and local authorities. The most common types include:
Tree condition and safety survey
Focuses on assessing the health and safety of existing trees, identifying any signs of disease, decay, or structural weakness that could pose risks to people or property.
A tree condition survey is a professional inspection and covers elements including health and vitality, structural defect, risk assessment and recommendations.
BS5837 tree survey for planning
Required for planning applications and development projects, this survey evaluates the impact of proposed works on trees present on or near the site, ensuring compliance with planning regulations and tree preservation order requirements.
If you are proposing any work in proximity to a tree, there is a potential risk of damage to the tree or damage caused in future by the tree as it grows. Also, if there are trees on or around your site, or within close proximity where they could potentially have an impact, you will need arboricultural advice to assist with your planning application.
Mortgage tree report
Essential for property purchases, this report highlights any potential risks posed by trees, such as subsidence or damage to structures, and is often requested by lenders.
A pre-purchase tree survey will consider the trees and tree roots within the property or in proximity to the site and review the likely, anticipated and foreseeable risk of direct and indirect damage (subsidence) being caused to built structures from trees and vegetation.
Also, we consider all trees on and around your property in respect of H&S tree risk management.
Arboricultural impact assessment
Assesses the impact of development on wildlife and habitats, ensuring that tree works comply with the Wildlife and Countryside Act and other environmental regulations.
Understanding which tree survey is required for your situation ensures that you meet all legal and planning obligations, while safeguarding the health and safety of your trees and surrounding environment.
Subsidence and tree damage investigation
Trees on site and nearby trees can cause damage to hard surfaces (driveways, paths etc.), light structures (walls, outbuildings etc) and buildings. Tree assessments are essential for identifying tree problems and potential hazards to ensure risks are managed and impacts on property and infrastructure are minimised.
Subsidence caused by trees can lead to significant property damage if not properly managed. Our subsidence management surveys are designed to identify and mitigate these risks.
What your tree survey report includes
Every Indigo tree survey report is written to be submitted, not just read. A BS5837
report for planning includes a tree schedule listing every tree by number, species,
height, trunk diameter, crown spread and estimated remaining life; a category grading
of A, B, C or U against BS5837:2012; a tree constraints plan showing root protection
areas and shade; a tree protection plan; and an arboricultural method statement where
construction work falls inside a root protection area.
A tree condition and safety report instead sets out the defects found on each tree, the
level of risk each one presents, and the remedial work recommended with a timescale for
each item. A mortgage tree report focuses on the single tree the lender has queried,
its distance from the property, its species and likely mature size, and a clear
statement on whether it presents a subsidence risk.
Reports are usually issued as a PDF within a few working days of the site visit, in the format
local planning authorities and lenders accept without query.
When a tree survey is required
Tree survey reports are required in a number of different situations, especially as part of a development project. We work with a vast and varied client base, from large scale developers to domestic households. We produce thorough tree surveys, on both private and public lands, and provide accurate information in regard to the legal status of any trees present within the area, as well as listing any tree problems, such as disease, decay, or structural issues that may be affecting prominent trees in the area. Our surveys also assess potential hazards, including risks of tree failure, to ensure safety and compliance.
Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) routinely require tree reports to validate planning applications. Tree reports are essential for planning applications as they provide detailed information on how trees will be managed during a development project, ensuring compliance with local authority regulations. Local authorities often require these reports to evaluate the potential impact of proposed developments on existing trees and vegetation, which is crucial for obtaining planning consent.
The information provided by the tree survey will help support your planning application and ensure you comply with local authority requirements regarding protected trees. A tree survey helps ensure that protected trees are not cut down accidentally, thus avoiding breaches of the Wildlife and Countryside Act.
Whether you are a developer, land owner, architect or householder, if you are thinking of constructing a new building or extending an existing one, and this is in close proximity to trees, then you will need a tree survey. Surveys are usually required on all trees on the site and those within 12 metres of the site boundary.
A tree survey can identify potential hazards and tree problems, especially if trees are diseased, decaying, or structurally compromised and at risk of tree failure in bad weather, in which case felling would often be recommended and the best option for safety. As part of the process, a tree risk assessment is conducted to reduce risks to people and property, and tree care recommendations are provided to promote ongoing health and safety. Overall though, a tree survey helps inform UK planning authorities so that sound decisions can be made and the chances of planning approval are generally much improved.
Need a survey? Boost your chances of planning success with a survey from Indigo
What type of Survey do you require?
Large-Scale Developments & Planning Permission
As part of any planning application for large-scale development sites, it is vital that an accurate tree survey report is conducted, with precise and detailed information available, prior to any work being carried out. Tree reports must first be issued before any site layout preparation takes place.
These should include the dimensions of trees found on-site, including:
- Structural integrity of the tree & its physiological condition
- Crown height and crown spread
- The age class of all trees found on site.
- Diameter of stem
Health & Safety Tree Condition Survey Risk Assessments
Indigo Surveys provide Health & Safety tree risk management surveys that identify potential hazards and assess the risk of tree failure. This involves a visual tree assessment, including the physiological and structural condition of trees and tree stock to enable cost-effective site management. Visual Tree Assessments (VTA) use ground-level inspections to identify structural defects and health issues in trees. If concerns are raised during a VTA, detailed investigations may use specialist equipment such as tree motion sensors to further assess tree health. Under the Occupiers Liability Act 1984, tree owners have a legal responsibility and ‘duty of care’ to ensure the safety of visitors to their land and/or its vicinity.
This includes the need to apply reasonable measures for the safety of their trees. As such, they must show that regular tree risk assessments have been carried out by a competent person to reduce risks to people and property. From single trees to estate land, our arboricultural consultants specialise in tree hazard identification, including the evaluation of potential causes of tree failure, using BS5837 Retention Categories to grade a tree’s quality and value, with categories A, B, C, and U, and providing sensible tree work recommendations in order to establish an acceptable level of risk.
So how often should trees be inspected? If you notice a problem with the condition of any trees on your land, you should have them inspected immediately. Ordinarily, trees should be inspected every three years, unless directed otherwise by a specialist. You may wish to have a safety tree survey following severe weather, such as storms or excessive rain.
Need a survey? Boost your chances of planning success with a survey from Indigo
Tree Preservation Orders & Conservation Areas
A tree survey will help you understand the status of any trees on your land that might be protected in some way or other. Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) are created by local authorities under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act to protect individual trees, groups of trees, or woodlands from removal or improper pruning that would result in a significant loss of amenity.
Common questions you will get answers to with a tree survey include:
- Is my tree protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO)?
- What can I do with trees on my land that are protected by a TPO?
- Is my house, my land or my tree located within a Conservation Area?
- What mitigation can be done if protected trees require removal as part of my development plans?
Indigo Surveys can undertake a baseline H&S tree survey to assess your trees and provide suitable and defensible recommendations for tree risk mitigation and tree stock management. If your trees are protected under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 by a TPO, or are contained within a Conservation Area, then you may special consent or have to submit a prior notification of your intended tree works to local planners.
You can often find out whether your trees are protected by TPO, or if a tree is located within a Conservation Area, by visiting your local Council website, or contact your local authority Tree Officer directly. Should you need prior advice on the management of your trees, assistance in establishing the statutory controls and protection of your trees, or liaison with the local council, contact us for free advice and a fixed cost quote for our tree survey report options.
We understand how to work with local councils when clients are seeking planning approval on land with existing trees that require protection. The service at Indigo Surveys is built on a commitment by everyone in our team, including our tree surveyors, to provide a consistent level of high quality tree reports. We offer practical and reliable project solutions to cover a full range of development proposals, large and small.
What a tree survey costs
The cost of a tree survey in the UK typically costs between £200 and £950, depending on the type of survey and the number of trees involved. Find out more on tree survey costs.
Tree surveys near you
We carry out tree surveys across the whole of the UK. For local detail and availability see our pages for tree surveys in London, tree surveys Hertfordshire, tree surveys Birmingham, tree surveys Gloucestershire, tree surveys in Chester, tree surveys in Telford, tree surveys Oxfordshire, tree surveys Buckinghamshire, tree surveys Berkshire and tree surveys Northampton, or call 0333 123 7080 to confirm cover in your area.
Need a tree survey?
All the tree reports we produce are delivered in a timely and cost-effective manner, ensuring that your projects stay on track. The time taken to complete a tree survey can vary, but typically takes around 1 to 5 days depending on the scale and complexity of the project and the number of trees involved.
If you want to know more about our arboricultural, or other surveys, then contact our team by phone or by emailing us at info@indigosurveys.co.uk
What type of Survey do you require?
Tree Survey FAQS:
How much does a tree survey cost?
A tree survey starts from £200. Most planning and condition surveys fall between £250 and £600 depending on how many trees are involved and how much site access is needed. We publish a full breakdown of typical prices on our tree survey cost page.
Is a tree survey a legal requirement?
A tree survey is not required by law in itself, but a local planning authority will usually refuse or delay a planning application without a BS5837 report where trees are on or next to the site. It is also required by most mortgage lenders where a tree is close to a property.
How long does a tree survey take?
A site visit for a typical residential plot takes two to four hours. We issue the written report within a few working days of the visit.
Who can carry out a tree survey?
A tree survey for planning must be produced by a qualified arboriculturist working to BS5837:2012. Our surveyors have been producing these reports for over 15 years.
Can I do my own tree survey?
You can inspect your own trees informally, but a local authority, lender or insurer will not accept a self-produced report. Anything submitted with a planning application needs to come from a qualified arboricultural consultant.
Do you cover my area?
We carry out tree surveys across the whole of the UK, including London, Birmingham, Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire, Chester and Telford. Call 0333 123 7080 to confirm availability in your area.
Our Testimonials
Survey Manager
Indigo had been recommended to us by a consultant for Arboricultural Consultancy on an important cemetery project. There was a quick turnaround and clear understanding of what we needed. We were very appreciative of the fact that Indigo understood the sensitivities of the site and mourners that attend the cemetery.
The service provided was excellent from start to finish. I would have no hesitation in recommending the service of Indigo Surveys Ltd
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