Recording Trees for Planning Applications – Understanding the Process
When submitting a planning application, it is often necessary to identify whether any trees are “impacted” by the proposed works. Different Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) apply different criteria:
Tree Horizon Line – trees within the red line boundary and those within 15 metres of it.
Red Line only – trees located strictly within the red line boundary.
Parcel expansion – trees within the red line, expanded by 15m, or in some cases a wider parcel of land extended by 15m.
Because these requirements vary, it is important to have a clear record of what trees are present on or near the site.
Step 1: Click to add trees
The process begins by clicking to mark each tree in the relevant area. For each click you can specify whether you are recording a:
Tree – defined as having a trunk diameter of 7.5 cm or more at breast height (1.5 m above ground).
Shrub – woody vegetation below this threshold.
Stump – where a tree has been removed but the base remains.
Step 2: Automatic table generation
Each tree, shrub or stump that is marked is automatically placed into a table. This table provides a structured list of all vegetation recorded on the site and is the basis for determining whether any are considered “impacted” under the relevant LPA’s rules.
Step 3: Assessment against Government data
Once the table is created, it is compared with Government datasets and the chosen LPA criteria. This establishes whether any trees in the table fall into the category of being “impacted” or whether they could potentially affect the proposed works.
Summary
In short, the process is:
Click to add each tree, shrub or stump.
The system generates a table of what has been recorded.
The table is checked against Government data to determine whether trees are considered “impacted” under the relevant LPA’s definition.
This provides a clear, consistent basis for tree information in planning applications.