What is a BS5837 Tree Survey?
A BS5837 tree survey is a professional arboricultural survey carried out in accordance with British Standard BS5837 — Trees in Relation to Design, Demolition and Construction.
It is the standard required by local planning authorities across England when a planning application involves a site where trees are present. Without one your application will not be validated where trees are on or near the site.
When Do You Need One?
You need a BS5837 survey if:
- There are trees on your application site
- There are trees on neighbouring land whose roots or canopy may be affected by the works
- Your local planning authority lists a tree survey on its Local Validation List for your application type
The second point catches people out most often. A neighbour's tree has a root protection area that extends across the boundary and constrains your site exactly as your own trees would — but you cannot remove it or work on it without their agreement.
If you are unsure whether your application requires one,
contact us and we will advise based on your specific site and local authority, usually within a few hours. There is no charge for that.
What Does it Include?
A full BS5837 planning package consists of several documents. Not every application requires all of them, and we advise on the appropriate level before any work begins.
- Tree Survey and Schedule — records every tree on and adjacent to the site: species, dimensions, condition and category.
- Tree Constraints Plan — a scaled AutoCAD drawing showing all trees, crown spreads and root protection areas plotted onto the site layout.
- Arboricultural Impact Assessment — evaluates the impact of the development on every tree and sets out the mitigation required.
- Tree Protection Plan — the drawing showing protective fencing, ground protection and construction exclusion zones.
- Arboricultural Method Statement — the written document specifying how works near retained trees are carried out.
- Site supervision — where a planning condition requires the works to be monitored and recorded.
Tree Categories
Every tree is assessed and placed into one of four categories under the current standard:
- Category A — high quality, significant arboricultural value, retention a priority
- Category B — moderate quality, retain where reasonably practicable
- Category C — low quality, limited contribution, loss generally acceptable
- Category U — unretainable, removal typically recommended
The category matters because it determines how much weight the local planning authority gives to retaining that tree. A layout that removes a Category A tree needs considerably more justification than one removing a Category C.
Root Protection Areas
The root protection area is the notional rooting zone that must be kept free of construction. Under the current standard it is calculated as a radius of twelve times the stem diameter, capped at an area of 707 square metres.
In practice this is the number that determines what can be built where. A mature oak with a 700mm stem carries a root protection area over eight metres in radius, and that area cannot ordinarily be built on, dug into, driven over or used for storage.
Establishing those areas before the layout is fixed is the single most useful thing arboricultural input does on a development site.
The New Draft BS5837 — What's Changing
A draft revision was published for public consultation in August 2024. The consultation closed that October and attracted over two thousand comments from the profession. The final standard has not yet been published, and the draft may change before it is.
The main proposals are:
- The standard becomes a Code of Practice rather than Recommendations, carrying greater weight in decision-making
- Stem diameter measured at 1.3 metres rather than 1.5 metres above ground
- Two new categories — Category V for veteran trees and Category X for trees with under ten years of remaining contribution, replacing Category U
- Root protection areas for the highest category trees calculated at fifteen times stem diameter rather than twelve, with an additional buffer zone
- The Tree Constraints Plan replaced by an Arboricultural Constraints and Opportunities Plan, showing projected future canopy growth rather than existing constraints alone
- The Arboricultural Impact Assessment becomes the Arboricultural Impact Report
- Canopy cover assessment proposed to become a standard requirement on development sites
Until the revised standard is formally published, BS5837:2012 remains the applicable standard.
Urban Tree Management is already operating to the draft methodology — our survey tools, software and canopy cover model are built to it, so schemes have some resilience to the transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I definitely need a BS5837 survey?
If there are trees on or adjacent to your site, almost certainly. Most authorities list an arboricultural report as a validation requirement, meaning the application will not be registered without one. Send us your site plan and we will tell you.
How long does a BS5837 survey take?
The site visit is usually a single day for most sites. Report turnaround is agreed at the outset and stated in the quote. If you have a submission deadline, say so at enquiry.
How long is a survey valid for?
There is no fixed expiry, but authorities expect reasonably current data and anything beyond around two years is likely to be queried. If the revised standard publishes, older surveys may need updating to the new categories and RPA calculations regardless of age.
What if my scheme overlaps a root protection area?
An overlap does not automatically mean refusal. Depending on the extent, the soil and the tree, it may be addressed through no-dig construction, pile and beam foundations, or a modest redesign. What matters is that it is identified and addressed rather than ignored.
Does a Tree Preservation Order stop me developing?
No. It means the tree is a high-priority constraint that must be designed around, with any works requiring consent and justification. Schemes are regularly consented on sites with protected trees. See our guidance on protected trees.
Should I wait for the new standard before commissioning?
No. BS5837:2012 remains current and applications are being determined against it. Waiting delays your scheme for an uncertain date. Commission now and ask your consultant to flag where the draft would change the outcome.
How much does a BS5837 survey cost?
It depends on the number of trees, the size of the site, and which documents your application needs. All our surveys are fixed-fee and quoted in advance. See our tree survey costs page for what affects the price.
Need a BS5837 Tree Survey? — Greater Manchester, Lancashire & Cheshire
Send us your site address and a brief description and we will provide a free, fixed-fee written quote, typically within two hours during working hours. No site visit is needed to quote, and there is no charge for quoting.
If you are not sure which documents your application needs, describe the scheme and we will tell you.
