Arboricultural Impact Assessment Manchester: Planning and Development

In the early stages of a development project, developers must consider the potential impact that their proposal may have on the surrounding environment. One of the most important factors that must be considered is the impact on trees that are nearby the proposed site.

An Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA) is a tree report that is designed to identify and assess these risks before any problems occur further down the line. An AIA is also used to find mitigation methods that can be used to prevent any harm to trees in the area.

An AIA can be used in planning applications to obtain planning permission and will often be requested by a local planning authority. The reason for this being that trees are protected under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. Some trees are protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPO), so those looking to remove trees may require tree surveys and tree assessments before a planning application is granted.

At Collington Winter, our tree consultants provide Arboricultural Impact Assessment Manchester services for a variety of clients and can help you to meet planning requirements.

The requirements of an AIA are set out in British Standard BS5837 2012 trees in relation to design demolition and construction guidelines. Firstly, a report is undertaken to record the quality, dimensions and type of trees in your site.

Following this, a Tree Constraints Plan will be produced. This plan is necessary to identify the tree retention category of the trees and identify their Tree Root Protection Area.

Once the plan has been created, the proposed development layout will be placed over the Tree Constraints Plan. This will help to show any potential areas of conflict between the rooting area of the retained trees and the construction that will take place.

A tree consultant can use this information to conduct tree inspections in order to identify which individual trees will be affected or removed during the development. Tree protection plans such as fencing barriers and ground protection measures can then be put in place as well as any mitigation for tree removal.

In addition to an AIA, local authorities may stipulate that an Arboricultural Method Statement is required to satisfy reserved matters or planning conditions. Tree surveys and reports should also be used by tree owners as they have a duty of care to prevent damage or injury to people or property from any unsafe trees under the Occupiers’ Liability Act.

A tree consultant, otherwise known as an arboricultural consultant, is an expert that is qualified in tree safety and woodland management. The role of a tree consultant is to advise and assess the health, management and benefit of existing trees, including forests and woodland areas.

Tree consultants have a varied role within ecology. They undertake tree surveys and inspections and prepare tree reports for clients regarding individual trees or all trees on a site. On development sites where retained trees are endangered by construction work, a consultant may be required to provide specific mitigation measures that must be taken when protecting trees from damage.

Tree work services are typically required by those involved with the planning and development of a site. Landscape designers, those in the construction industry, architects and individuals looking to obtain planning permission for a property may all require tree consultant services.

Collington Winter Environmental believe in a pragmatic approach to tree management. We meet the needs of our clients whilst ensuring positive outcomes for wildlife during tree work. We work alongside clients when carrying out AIAs and tree surveys Manchester to find mitigation solutions. We believe that ecologists can earn a valuable seat at design team meetings to identify potential constraints and opportunities for clients.

We believe that early consultation, an open mindset and in-depth knowledge of natural best practice and law is the best way to improve your chances of a successful project.

To find out how an expert tree consultant from our team could assist on your project, please get in touch using the details below.