Safety Testing & Certification for Property Developers in Exeter

The survey records each tree, or group of trees, with its species, height, stem diameter, crown spread, condition and estimated remaining life, and places it in a retention category from A to C, with U for trees unsuitable for retention. It also works out the root protection area for each retained tree, the zone around it that should be kept free from construction activity. The survey should be carried out by an arboriculturist who knows how to apply the standard; it is not a job for a general contractor.

Once a layout is proposed, the arboricultural impact assessment explains which trees would be removed, which retained and how the development affects them, including services, drainage runs, access roads and changes in ground level. The tree protection plan and arboricultural method statement then set out protective fencing, ground protection, construction exclusion zones and any special techniques, such as no-dig surfacing or hand digging near roots. Planning permissions often carry conditions requiring these documents to be approved and followed.

Check existing protections before any clearance. A Tree Preservation Order or conservation area status still applies until planning permission is granted for the specific scheme, and a full permission only authorises the tree removal needed to carry it out. Felling trees ahead of an application to clear the way can lead to prosecution and weigh against the scheme. On larger or wooded sites, felling may also need a Forestry Commission licence unless an exemption applies, such as felling needed to implement a full planning permission.

Ecology runs alongside. Trees with cavities, loose bark or dense ivy can hold bat roosts, which are protected under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017, and nesting birds have legal protection under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Mature and veteran trees can also be ecological features in their own right. The developer's ecologist should review the tree survey so that tree works are timed and supervised correctly.

During construction, the survey is only as useful as the protection that stays in place. Protective fencing should go up before plant arrives, and materials, spoil and site cabins should be kept out of root protection areas. Some conditions require arboricultural supervision at key stages, such as installing fencing or digging near retained trees, with monitoring records sent to the council. Tree work required by the approved plans, such as crown lifting for scaffold clearance, should be carried out to BS 3998 by a competent tree surgeon.

Before appointing an arboriculturist or tree surgeon from those you are introduced to, check which BS 5837 outputs are included, whether revisions to the impact assessment after layout changes are priced, how supervision visits are charged, and how soon draft reports can be issued for the planning programme. Ask to see an example report so its format can be checked against the council's validation requirements.