Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA)

What is an Arboricultural Impact Assessment?

Within the planning process, an understanding is needed of how any proposed development or construction will impact the trees on site. This requires a particular type of tree survey known as an Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA), and is needed with the submission of a full planning application.  Tree removal is one of the most significant and recognizable impacts a development can have. However, there are many more ways in which construction can impact trees without being removed. For example, movement of construction machinery across root areas, excavation within the root area and the construction of hard surfaces can all affect a tree if it is not adequately protected.

Planning Permission  & Trees

The Assessment identifies all possible impacts of a proposed development design to the trees on a site and identifies which trees will require removal and those which can be retained with protection measures applied.  For retained trees, the Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA) identifies the effect of the proposed development on the impacts below ground (the roots), as well as the impacts above ground (the crown).

Arboricultural Impact Assessments also identify the impact the trees themselves will have on future development, such as from shading and production of leaf litter. This allows designs to consider the positioning of any building or extension and avoid pressure for tree removal or future growth.

Arboricultural Impact Assessments include recommendations for:

• Remedial health and safety tree works.
• Guidance on which trees may be retained given the proposed site layout.
• Protection measures to be implemented during construction. Guidance on specialist construction methods for structures in close proximity to trees.
• Guidance on mitigation for tree removal and recommended planting specification.
• Suggestions for future arboricultural management to maximize the safe useful life expectancy of retained trees.

Before we can head out to your Site and conduct a Tree Survey, we’ll need to ask you a few critical questions about your project. Fill out our quick and easy online form so we can capture the most important project information and provide you with a free quote that includes everything you need to know.