New Planning Practice Guidance on Tree Preservation Orders and trees in conservation areas was published on 07 March.
The new guidance replaces ‘Tree Preservation Orders: a guide to the law and good practice’, (the Blue Book), which was published in 2000, and the 2009 addendum to the Blue Book. Other related guidance has also been cancelled.
The Planning Practice Guidance guidance omits all of the model letters and documents contained in the Blue Book, but instead provides flowcharts which summarise the various processes involved in administering Tree Preservation Orders.
In addition, the new guidance has been abridged, and some small but potentially significant changes have been made. For example, the wording of the guidance on assessing the amenity value of trees has been slightly altered, and introduces a new reference to climate change. There are some omissions - the former guidance on the circumstances in which it is possible to waive the need to provide reasons for proposed tree work seems to have been omitted from the new advice. But there are also some additions - the new advice suggests that authorities should aim to determine validity of applications within 3 working day of the date of receipt, and also makes it clear that when making a TPO after receipt of a section 211 notice, the authority should provide a copy of the new Order to any agent who submitted the section 211 notice.
The new Planning Practice Guidance on Tree Preservation Orders and trees in conservation areas can be found here:
http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/blog/guidance/tree-preservation-orders/
Details of cancelled guidance is available here:
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/cancelled-guidance_06032014.pdf
