Planning
Working near protected trees: TPOs and conservation areas
A tree with a TPO needs council consent before any work (up to 8 weeks). A tree in a conservation area needs 6 weeks written notice. Both apply before you build near them.
In short
Two things protect trees, and both apply before garden work near them. A Tree Preservation Order (TPO) means you must apply to the council for consent before pruning or felling the tree, and a decision can take up to 8 weeks. Separately, any tree in a conservation area with a trunk over 75 millimetres across needs 6 weeks written notice to the council before work, during which it can decide to protect the tree with a TPO. Because much of our area is conservation land with mature trees, this matters not just for the tree but for landscaping, foundations and hard surfaces built within its root protection area.
The thresholds
Where the line sits
Trees are protected in two ways, and both need dealing with before a spade goes in. A Tree Preservation Order means you must apply to the council for consent before any pruning or felling, and that can take up to 8 weeks. A tree in a conservation area, even without a TPO, needs 6
| Timescale | Protection | Before you work |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 8 weeks | Tree Preservation Order | Apply for council consent |
| 6 weeks (trunk over 75mm) | Tree in a conservation area | Give 6 weeks written notice |
| Part of the design | Root protection area | Design groundworks around it |
| Quick check | No protection | None, but confirm status first |
Source: Gardenscape. Figures as of 2026-06-01.
Yes, no, or it depends
Scenarios in plain language
The council holds the records, and we check the tree and conservation status for the property at the design stage, so a protected tree does not stop the work halfway through.
Often, but the design has to respect the root protection area, sometimes with a no-dig build-up rather than excavation. We design hard landscaping around trees so the tree and the surface both last.
It is an offence and can carry significant fines, which is exactly why we confirm the status before any work near a mature tree.
The local layer
Designated land and Article 4
Trees are protected in two ways, and both need dealing with before a spade goes in. A Tree Preservation Order means you must apply to the council for consent before any pruning or felling, and that can take up to 8 weeks. A tree in a conservation area, even without a TPO, needs 6 weeks written notice before work if its trunk is more than 75 millimetres across, and in that window the council can decide to make a TPO. Much of our area is conservation land with mature, established trees, so this comes up often. It matters for more than just the tree itself. The root protection area, the ground a
A note
General guidance, not advice. Rules vary by site, and Article 4 directions or conditions can change what applies. Check with your local authority and the Planning Portal.
Arrange a consultation
Send a few photographs and a sentence about the site. We will reply personally.