Tree surveys in Durham
If you're building near trees in Durham, Durham County 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 Durham.
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 Durham
- Planning decisions
- Planning applications in Durham are decided by Durham County Council. The council's validation checklist asks for a tree and hedgerow assessment to BS 5837:2012 wherever mature or semi-mature trees or hedgerows are on or next to the site, including street trees.
- Tree preservation orders
- Find TPOs and trees in conservation areas on Durham County Council's map, though it isn't the legal document; Planning is on 03000 262 830.
- 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
- County Durham has around 700 TPOs and 93 conservation areas, and tree canopy covers 10.3% of the county.
Tree survey types and costs
For a planning application in Durham, 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 Durham
We pass each Durham 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 Newcastle upon Tyne, York and Leeds.
In Durham we can also introduce you to specialists for Japanese knotweed treatment, bat surveys, ecological surveys, tree surgery and landscaping, all listed on our Durham page.
Tree survey questions in Durham
Do I need a tree survey for a planning application in Durham?
Usually, if there are trees on or near the site. The council's validation checklist asks for a tree and hedgerow assessment to BS 5837:2012 wherever mature or semi-mature trees or hedgerows are on or next to the site, including street trees.
How do I find out if a tree has a TPO in Durham?
Find TPOs and trees in conservation areas on Durham County Council's map, though it isn't the legal document; Planning is on 03000 262 830.
Can I cut down a tree in my garden in Durham?
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 Durham?
Possibly. Trees with cavities, cracks or loose bark can hold roosting bats, so felling or heavy pruning may need a bat survey in Durham, and larger sites often need an ecological survey in Durham as well.
Get a tree survey quote in Durham
Tell us about the site and the trees. Beatrice reads every enquiry.