Trees are protected if they’re within a Conservation Area or have a Tree Preservation Order (TPO).

A Tree Preservation Order is an order made by a local planning authority in England to protect specific trees, groups of trees or woodlands in the interests of amenity. An Order prohibits the cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting, wilful damage/destruction of trees without the local planning authority’s written consent. It is a criminal offence to carry out works to protected trees without this consent.

Trees in a Conservation Area that are not protected by an Order are protected by provisions that require people to notify the local planning authority 6 weeks before carrying out certain work on such trees, unless an exception applies: In conservation areas, notice is required for works to trees that have a trunk diameter of more than 75mm when measured at 1.5m from ground level (or more than 100mm if reducing the number of trees to benefit the growth of other trees). The work may go ahead before the end of the 6 week period if the local planning authority gives consent. This gives the authority an opportunity to consider whether an order should be made to protect the trees.

The .Gov.uk website explains the legislation governing Tree Preservation Orders and tree protection in conservation areas.

Other forms of protection: The tree(s) may not have a TPO or be in a Conservation Area however there are sometimes conditions attached to a planning application that restrict works to trees on site. It is your responsibility to check previous decision notices for these conditions prior to starting work. You can look up previous planning applications for a site on our Public Access system which includes an address search or map search. The decision notice will state the conditions. 

Unless you’re sure that a tree or hedgerow is not protected, then you should not start work on it. We can check this and let you know before you start.

We currently don't have a map showing Tree Preservation Orders online. 

Please complete the Tree Protection Enquiry/5 Day Notice Form. We will check and inform you whether the tree itself is protected or it is protected because it is within a Conservation Area. We aim to respond within 10 working days.

Whilst we can check the Conservation and TPO layers we hold there are sometimes conditions attached to a planning application that restrict works to trees on site. It is your responsibility to check previous decision notices for these conditions prior to starting work. You can look up previous planning applications for a site on our Public Access system which includes an address search or map search. The decision notice will state the conditions.

If your tree or trees are protected you will need to obtain permission before starting work. Please ensure there are no nesting birds before carrying out works as the nesting birds themselves are protected even if the tree is not.

An application for consent is required for works to trees that are protected by a TPO or because they are in a Conservation Area.

Dead/dangerous trees - Submit a 5 Day Notice

Where a tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order or in a conservation area and works are required because the tree is considered to be dead or imminently dangerous, a formal tree works application is not required. However, at least five working days written notice must be given prior to the works taking place. No fee is required.

Email the Tree Protection Enquiry/5 Day Notice Form to us at planning@northumberland.gov.uk. To avoid delay please make sure you complete all questions and attach what we ask for on the form to your email.

Once we have the information we need we will add your details to our register and a Case Officer will undertake an assessment. They will assess whether we have sufficient information to determine if a 5 Day Notice is the appropriate route or if a formal Application for Works to Trees is required. This can be done as a desktop exercise (by checking our records and the information provided with the application) if we have clear information including photos, but may involve a site visit if required. We aim to respond to the applicant within 5 working days to confirm whether the works can be carried out under this process. You are advised to wait for confirmation before proceeding with works. If a protected tree is not dead or imminently dangerous you will need to put a full formal Application for Works to Trees.

Submit an Application for Tree Works 

If you wish to carry out works to a tree that is protected by a Tree Preservation Order or within a Conservation Area you will need to apply for consent.

​How to make an application

Make your Application for Works to Trees online using the Planning Portal website. When you follow this link the Portal website mentions a service charge however Works to Trees applications are exempt from this as there is no planning application fee. When you select the 'Tree Works: Trees in a conservation area/subject to a TPO' form you will not be expected to pay any fee/service charge. Upload your documents online (no need to provide paper copies). Please ensure you read the guidance notes/help text for each question.

You can ask us to protected a certain tree or group of trees.

Please send your request to planning@northumberland.gov.uk with:

• a clear description of the location of the trees
• the species of tree(s)
• reason(s) for requesting their protection.

The Gov.uk website explains the process involved in making Tree Preservation Orders.

Planting a hedge can be an ideal garden boundary but the wrong hedge may cause problems if it is not regularly maintained.

High Hedges are dealt with under Part 8 of the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003. The Government have published guidance on how to settle your hedge differences without involving the local authority.

Read Over the Garden Hedge on the Gov.uk website before you complain to the Council.

Provided you have tried and exhausted all other avenues for resolving your hedge dispute, you are now able to make a formal complaint about a neighbour's evergreen hedge to your local authority. 

Read High Hedges Complaining to the Council on the Gov.uk website before you contact us.​

If you are unable to resolve a high hedge issue please: 

• Ensure you read the High Hedge Complaint Form Guidance Notes
• Print and complete this PDF of the High Hedge Complaint Form
• Pay the £400 fee for a High Hedge Complaint online
• Scan and email your High Hedge Complaint to us at planning@northumberland.gov.uk

An application is required to remove ‘important’ hedgerows subject to protection under the Hedgerows Regulations 1997.

An important hedgerow is a hedge which has existed for 30 years or more and satisfies one or more of the criteria listed in Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Hedgerow Regulations 1997. The regulations apply to any hedgerow which;

• Grows in, or adjacent to any common land, Local Nature Reserve, Site of Special Scientific Interest, or is used for agriculture, forestry or the breeding of horses, ponies and donkeys and;
• Has a continuous length of at least 20 metres, or if less than 20 metres, meets another hedgerow at each end.

​How to make an application

For your application to be valid when submitted we require:

• A plan which identifies the hedgerow to be removed (drawn to an identified scale and showing the direction of North). 
• If the hedgerow is 'less than 30yrs old' you must provide evidence of the date of planting (e.g. grant awarded, photos of planting, invoices for the plants). 
• Make your Application for a Hedgerow Removal Notice online using the Planning Portal website. There is no application fee or admin charge to make your application online. Get help choosing the correct application type and upload your documents online (no need to provide paper copies). As soon as you submit your application you’ll get a reference number and the application will be made available to us so we can begin to validate it.