Planning BS5837 · Surrey

BS5837 Tree Report Surrey

Has the council asked for a BS5837 tree report for planning? Forward the exact wording with the latest plans. You do not need to decide which technical document they mean before asking us.

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You can send the plans and the wording you have received. We will confirm what information is needed before you instruct.

What this service is for

A clear planning report built around the real proposal

“Tree report” can mean different things depending on the project stage. It may refer to the survey information itself, a written planning report, an impact assessment or construction-stage documents. We start with the wording you have received and the live plans.

A council request for a “tree report” can be frustratingly broad. The sensible first step is to look at the exact wording and the drawings that are being submitted. That tells us far more than the report label on its own.

The written report should explain the tree resource, the planning relevance and the next action clearly. On a small domestic scheme that may be concise. On a larger or more constrained development it may need to draw together survey data, impacts, mitigation and supporting plans in much greater detail.

The important thing is that the document answers the project question. A planning officer should not have to guess which drawing is being assessed, which trees are retained or how a stated mitigation measure relates to the actual proposal.

What you receive

The exact output depends on the site and project stage, but the work should always be clear, coordinated and usable by the people making the next decision.

Clear description of the site and development context
Tree survey findings and retention categories
Explanation of Root Protection Areas and crown constraints
Recommendations on retention, removal and mitigation
Cross-reference to relevant plans and drawings
A route into AIA, TCP, AMS, TPP or supervision where required

The finished information should be easy for the client and design team to understand, technically defensible for the Local Planning Authority and practical enough to carry forward into the next project stage.

Delivered by Arbor Cultural: read the main BS5837 Tree Report service information →

What matters technically

The details that make the document useful.

The strongest arboricultural documents are not generic. They connect the tree information to the live drawings, explain the points that matter and leave as little room as possible for contradictory interpretation.

Clear project context

The report should say what is proposed, which drawings it relies on and what part of the planning process it is intended to support.

Consistent tree references

Tree numbers and categories should remain consistent across schedules, drawings and later documents so the project team is not trying to reconcile different systems.

Direct conclusions

The report should explain the material tree issues, not bury them. Retention, removal, impacts and follow-on requirements need to be easy to find.

Practical next steps

Where an AIA, AMS, TPP or supervision is needed later, that should be made clear so the project team knows what remains outstanding.

How it fits into the wider BS5837 process

A tree report should connect the survey to the planning decision in front of you.

Some clients come to us before any survey exists; others already have survey information and simply need the missing planning stage. We review what is available before deciding what needs to be produced.

If permission is granted, the same tree data can then support the construction-stage documents. The objective is one coherent chain of information rather than a series of unrelated reports.

01Survey & constraints

02Design & AIA

03AMS & TPP

04Supervision & sign-off

Before you request a quote

Send whatever project information you already have.

You do not need to build a perfect technical brief. Start with the site address, the current drawings and the exact wording from the council, tree officer, architect, engineer or Building Control team. If a previous arboricultural report exists, include it. If the design has been revised, send the latest revision.

Forward the council email, validation request or planning condition. If the wording simply says “tree report”, do not worry — send it exactly as received and include the current plans.

If there is a planning submission, condition-discharge or construction deadline, include that date as well. Programme matters because some services depend on a site visit, drawing information or an earlier BS5837 stage being complete.

We would rather tell you that a document is not needed than sell the wrong one. The aim is to identify the information that unlocks the next real project decision.

Where clients normally need this

Typical project situations

This is the page to start with when the planning request is broad, the terminology is unclear or the project team needs a coherent written arboricultural package.

Planning validation request

The application cannot move forward until tree information is supplied in a form the authority can assess.

Council or tree-officer query

Additional arboricultural information is requested after submission and the project team needs to know what is missing.

Architect-led planning package

The design team needs a coherent written document to sit alongside the survey and drawings.

Condition or revision update

Existing tree information needs to be checked against a changed design or a later planning stage.

After instruction

What happens once you go ahead.

The exact sequence changes by service, but the working principle is the same: review the live project, complete the technical work, keep the drawings coordinated and issue information that has a clear purpose.

Project review

We check the current drawings, authority wording and any previous arboricultural information. This establishes what is already known and prevents the new work being prepared in isolation.

Site work where required

Survey-based services include the relevant site inspection and measurements. Later-stage documents may rely primarily on approved information, current construction detail and targeted site context.

Technical coordination

The BS5837 Tree Report is prepared against the project information that actually matters to the decision. Drawing references and tree numbers should remain clear throughout.

Issue and next step

You receive the finished information for the project team. Where another BS5837 stage follows later, the report should make that obvious rather than leaving the client to guess what happens next.

Where the design changes materially after issue, send the revised drawing. We can check whether the document remains applicable or whether a focused amendment is required. Keeping the technical information aligned is far easier than explaining inconsistent documents after submission.

A useful report is more than a compliance exercise

It should help somebody make a decision.

A technically correct document can still be difficult to use if it is vague, disconnected from the drawings or written without the next project stage in mind. Good arboricultural work should reduce uncertainty rather than add another layer of terminology.

For the client, that means understanding what has been found and what it means for the project. For the architect, it means tree information that can be coordinated with the design. For the planning authority, it means a clear evidence trail. For the contractor, it means protection and construction requirements that can actually be followed on site.

We also distinguish between what is important now and what belongs later. There is little value in preparing construction-stage detail while the planning layout is still changing, just as there is little value in repeating feasibility discussion once a pre-commencement condition is the only thing stopping the build.

Keep the project moving

Tell us what decision is waiting.

If the application cannot be validated, send the validation request. If the tree officer has asked a question, send the full response. If a planning condition is preventing commencement, send the decision notice and approved drawings. If the engineer needs foundation-related tree data, send the Building Control request.

The fastest way to get the right answer is to show us the real blockage. From there, the BS5837 Tree Report can be considered in the context of what the project needs to achieve next.

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What good looks like

A good report makes the arboricultural position easier to understand, not more complicated.

The most useful reports are specific. They explain the site and project in front of them rather than filling pages with text that could apply to any development.

Clear drawings, explicit revisions and direct conclusions make it easier for planners, tree officers and the design team to see what is being proposed and why the arboricultural response is reasonable.

Keep the report and drawings on the same revision.

A surprisingly common problem is a technically competent report that refers to an old layout. If the footprint, access, levels, drainage, services or surfacing change, send the revision. We can then confirm whether the arboricultural information still stands or whether a targeted update is required.

That becomes even more important once the project reaches construction. The contractor needs documents that reflect what was approved and what is actually going to be built. Clear, coordinated information is easier for everybody: client, architect, planning officer, tree officer and site team.

Who we work with

Clear information for the whole project team.

Homeowners: you do not need to arrive with a technical brief. Send the council wording and drawings you have. We will explain what the request means and what information is needed next.

Architects and planning consultants: we can work directly from the live design information and keep the arboricultural documents tied to the correct revision. That is especially useful where the proposal is changing and tree constraints need to be considered as part of the design rather than after it.

Developers: consistent tree references and a clear document sequence make it easier to carry the same evidence from feasibility through planning and into construction.

Contractors: once permission is in place, the language needs to become practical. Protection zones, excavation methods, access restrictions and hold points should be obvious enough to use on site.

Tell us what you already have.

If somebody has already surveyed the trees, send the report. If the council has already accepted part of the arboricultural package, send the approved documents. If the architect has revised the scheme, send the new drawing as well as the old report.

Existing work is useful context. It helps us avoid repeating information unnecessarily and makes it easier to see where the project has genuinely changed.

If you are starting from scratch, that is fine too. An address and current plan are enough to begin the conversation, and the original council or consultant wording is the best guide where a formal request has already been made.

Questions clients ask us

BS5837 Tree Report FAQs

These are general answers. If you have project-specific wording, send it with the drawings and we can tell you how it applies to your site.

What is a BS5837 tree report for planning?

It is arboricultural information prepared to support a development proposal where trees may influence design, planning or construction. The exact contents depend on the project stage.

Is a tree report the same as a tree survey?

Not exactly. The survey is the site data collection and assessment. The report interprets and presents that information for the planning purpose.

Can the report include an AIA?

Yes, where the planning stage requires assessment of the proposed layout. The report package can include or lead into the AIA and supporting plans.

What if I only have the council email?

Send it. You do not need to translate the terminology before requesting a quote. The original wording is often the best starting point.

What if my design changes?

Send the revised drawing before submission. We can confirm whether the existing arboricultural information still applies or needs a targeted update.

Ready to move it forward?

Send the council wording and get the tree-report requirement made clear.

We will review the request and provide a straightforward fixed-fee proposal.

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