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Please also see information relating to Trees Protected by Tree Preservation Orders
How do I find out if a tree is growing within a Conservation Area?
To find out if a tree is growing within a Conservation Area please contact the Planning Department at Babergh District Council where details of Conservation Areas are recorded.
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I live in a Conservation Area. Does this mean my trees are protected?
There are restrictions relating to trees growing in Conservation Areas. Trees in a Conservation Area may be protected by a Tree Preservation Order in which case the process listed under Trees Protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPO’s)" applies.
If the trees are not covered by a Tree Preservation Order the owner must give Babergh District Council six weeks' notice in writing describing:
- The intended works.
- The reason for the intended works.
You may choose to print off and use the attached form to ensure you submit all the required details:
Tree Work within Conservation Area Application Form (PDF, 277Kb).
Please send your completed form to:
Planning (Control Division)
Council Offices
Corks Lane
Hadleigh
Ipswich
IP7 6SJ
The owner of the tree must not carry out any work during the six week period unless they have received written permission from Babergh District Council. If work does proceed within the six week period without written permission, the owner or person undertaking the work could be fined in the same manner as for a Tree Preservation Order offence. The offender may also have to plant a replacement tree.
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Do I always have to notify the Council of intended works to trees located in a Conservation Area?
As with Tree Preservation Orders there are certain circumstances where written permission from Babergh District Council may not be necessary before undertaking works. These include:
- Making a tree safe if it is an imminent threat to people or property.
- Removing dead wood, or a dead tree.
Additionally, permission is not required in Conservation Areas to cut down or work on trees less than 7.5 centimetres in diameter (measured 1.5 metres above the ground).
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Can the Council stop me undertaking the work after I given written notice of the work I intend to do?
If we do not agree that the works proposed in the application are either necessary or appropriate it may decide to protect the trees by serving a Tree Preservation Order. If this happens, the applicant has a right to object to the serving of the order. This process is explained in the documentation supplied when a Tree Preservation Order is served.
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If I have any queries who should I contact?
If there are any queries relating to these or any other tree matters, please contact the Arboricultural officer.
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