Skip to navigation My Accounts Search Services Home Planning Trees, shrubs and hedges Trees, shrubs and hedges In this section High hedges You are here: Tree Preservation Orders Trees in Conservation Areas Tree Preservation Orders What is a Tree Preservation Order (TPO)? It is an order made by your local planning authority which makes it an offence to cut down, top, lop, uproot, wilfully damage or destroy a tree without the local planning authority’s permission. The purpose of a Tree Preservation Order is to protect trees which have a significant impact on their local surroundings. The purpose of a TPO is to protect trees which make an important contribution to their local surroundings, once we have carried out a detailed inspection of the tree and it is healthy, we then have to consider its amenity value, this generally means that the tree is visible from any public highway, and that its loss would be detrimental to the surrounding area. If we decide to issue an order we will write to the owner of the tree and anyone who shares a common boundary enclosing a copy of the TPO. They then have a period of 28 days to make any objections which if relevant will be presented to committee before the order is confirmed, either with or without modifications. Where there is an immediate threat to important trees or to an individual specimen, we can make a TPO to protect the tree(s), which comes into immediate effect and will continue for six months or until the TPO is confirmed, whichever is the sooner. How can I find out if a tree is covered by an order, protected by a planning condition, or within a conservation area? You can view them on a map or you can contact Planning. View TPOs Felling of trees which are not subject to a TPO may still require a Felling Licence from the Forestry Commission, failure to fell under a proper licence is an offence subject to a penalty. gov.uk/guidance/tree-felling-licence-when-you-need-to-apply What do I do if I want to prune or fell a protected tree? Applications to work on protected trees must be made in writing. You can apply for consent online or download the application form. Only one copy of the application form is required. Apply online To report a violation of a Tree Preservation Order please contact Planning. Next page: Trees in Conservation Areas : Prev Previous page: High hedges : Downloads Brownfield land register Planning Documents Planning and Building policies Contact Planning 9am to 4.30pm Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. 10am to 4.30pm Wednesday. 9am to 4.00pm Friday. Address: City of Lincoln Council City Hall Beaumont Fee Lincoln LN1 1DD Telephone: 01522 873 474 Email: developmentteam@lincoln.gov.uk Contact form > A-Z services Contact us Make a complaint Cookies Data protection Freedom of information Accessibility Covid-19 Staff Facebook Twitter © City of Lincoln Council Designed and Powered by Jadu Back to the top