Tree surveys in Brighton and Hove
If you're building near trees in Brighton and Hove, Brighton & Hove City Council will usually want a BS 5837 tree survey with the planning application. If you're worried about a tree's safety, or a lender or insurer has asked about one, you need a condition survey instead. We can introduce you to one vetted arboricultural consultant who covers your site in Brighton and Hove.
Beatrice Vasey is a horticulturist, not an arboricultural consultancy. We introduce you to one vetted arboricultural consultant and are paid a referral fee by that business.
Protected trees and planning in Brighton and Hove
- Planning decisions
- Planning applications in Brighton and Hove are decided by Brighton & Hove City Council.
- Tree preservation orders
- Search your address on Brighton & Hove City Council's TPO map: protected trees show a TPO reference number, and conservation areas are under Other Information.
- Conservation areas
- In a conservation area, give the council 6 weeks' written notice before working on a tree with a trunk over 75 mm across at 1.5 m. If the council doesn't respond or make an order, the work can go ahead within 2 years.
- Felling licences
- Felling more than 5 m³ of timber in a calendar quarter usually needs a felling licence, but trees in private gardens are exempt. Licences are issued by the Forestry Commission.
- Local note
- Brighton and Hove has over 17,000 elm trees, and the council describes the surviving Preston Twin as the largest and oldest English elm in Europe.
Tree survey types and costs
For a planning application in Brighton and Hove, start with the BS 5837 survey and commission it before the layout is fixed, so the design can work around the trees worth keeping.
| Survey | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| BS 5837 tree survey | Before the layout is designed | About £300 to £760 for a small domestic site |
| Arboricultural impact assessment (AIA) | With the planning application, once the layout is drawn | About £500 to £1,000 together with the survey |
| Arboricultural method statement and tree protection plan | With the application, or to discharge a planning condition | About £250 to £500 for a small extension |
| Tree condition or safety survey | Any time | About £150 to £350 for a basic inspection; £350 to £900 for a detailed report on several trees |
| Mortgage or insurance tree report | When a lender or insurer asks for one | From about £300 plus VAT |
Typical prices from published cost guides. Your consultant quotes for your site.
Your arboricultural consultant in Brighton and Hove
We pass each Brighton and Hove enquiry to one vetted arboricultural consultant who covers your site. You get an email naming them before your details are shared, and they quote you directly. We are paid a referral fee by that business, as set out in how our partner network works.
We also arrange tree surveys in London, Southampton and Reading.
In Brighton and Hove we can also introduce you to specialists for Japanese knotweed treatment, bat surveys, ecological surveys, tree surgery and landscaping, all listed on our Brighton and Hove page.
Tree survey questions in Brighton and Hove
Do I need a tree survey for a planning application in Brighton and Hove?
Usually, if there are trees on the site or close enough to be affected, including trees on neighbouring land. A BS 5837 survey is what councils, including Brighton & Hove City Council, normally expect.
How do I find out if a tree has a TPO in Brighton and Hove?
Search your address on Brighton & Hove City Council's TPO map: protected trees show a TPO reference number, and conservation areas are under Other Information.
Can I cut down a tree in my garden in Brighton and Hove?
Only if it isn't protected. Cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting or wilfully damaging a protected tree, including its roots, needs the council's consent. Removing a dead tree needs 5 working days' written notice first. Breaking the rules can mean an unlimited fine and a duty to plant a replacement. In a conservation area, give the council 6 weeks' written notice before working on a tree with a trunk over 75 mm across at 1.5 m. If the council doesn't respond or make an order, the work can go ahead within 2 years.
Will I need other surveys for planning in Brighton and Hove?
Possibly. Trees with cavities, cracks or loose bark can hold roosting bats, so felling or heavy pruning may need a bat survey in Brighton and Hove, and larger sites often need an ecological survey in Brighton and Hove as well.
Get a tree survey quote in Brighton and Hove
Tell us about the site and the trees. Beatrice reads every enquiry.