Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs)

Tree Preservation Orders 

A Tree Preservation Order (TPO) is made where the Council considers it 'expedient in the interests of amenity to make provision for the preservation of trees.' A TPO may be made to protect trees, groups of trees, or woodlands.  

A TPO prohibits the cutting down, uprooting, topping, lopping, wilful damage, or destruction of trees, without the written consent of the Local Authority. There are several exemptions from the requirement to obtain this written consent, including work to dead trees or branches, and works that are urgently necessary to remove an immediate risk of serious harm. 

Criminal offences and unlimited fines 

It is a criminal offence to cut down, top, lop, uproot, willfully damage or destroy any TPO tree (or any tree over 75mm diameter in a Conservation Area). It is also an offence to cause or permit such acts. In serious cases, where the perpetrator is convicted in the Crown Court, there is no limit to the fine that may be imposed. 

Duty to replace felled TPO trees 

Landowners have an automatic duty to replace any tree subject to a TPO that is felled. This is the case whether the removal was authorised or not, and even if it was removed because it was dead or dangerous. 

Copies of TPOs

Copies of specific Tree Preservation Orders can be found and downloaded below:

 Tree Preservation Orders map