Tree Protection Plans (TPP)

What is a Tree Protection Plan?

Production of an accurate Land and Tree Survey and Tree Constraints Plan will enable the production of a Tree Protection Plan (TPP) for trees on or adjacent to the proposed development site. A Tree Protection Plan is a scaled drawing, usually developed in CAD software, which shows the measures that need to be put in place to ensure the safety and long-term viability of retained trees.  Site-specific protection measures are there to ensure that Contractors on site have clear, unambiguous, guidance on the steps they need to take to protect onsite trees.  The physical protection of trees during the construction process is the best way to ensure successful retention. This will impact the available space for construction work and, consequently, the siting of buildings

Tree Protection Plan

The physical protection of trees during the construction process is the best way to ensure successful retention. This will impact the available space for construction work and, consequently, on the siting of buildings. A Tree Protection Plan should be developed at an early stage and should contain the following information:

• Trees to be retained, clearly identified (e.g. by the tree survey number), and marked with a continuous outline.
• Trees to be removed, clearly identified (e.g. by the tree survey number), and marked with a broken outline.
• The precise location for the erection of protective barriers. This should enclose at least the area of the minimum Root Protection Area as identified in the Tree Constraints Plan and should be marked on the plan as a construction exclusion zone.
• The precise location of other physical protection measures, (for example, temporary ground protection to prevent soil compaction).
• Specification details of the proposed protective fencing around the tree Root Protection Areas. 
• In certain instances on congested development sites it may be acceptable to position protective fencing within the RPA to allow the erection of scaffolding.
• A schedule of pruning work identified in the tree survey either in accordance with good tree management or precautionary, to prevent accidental damage during construction.
• Locations of areas proposed for positioning site huts, temporary toilet facilities, and for the storage of building materials

The Tree Protection Plan is usually required as a component of an Arboricultural Impact Assessment and forms part of an Arboricultural Method Statement.