Arboricultural Surveys
Planning-ready tree surveys for development, design and risk management — delivered with clear advice, proportionate methods and reports aligned to BS 5837 and local authority requirements.
Whether you’re preparing a planning application, refining a site layout or addressing tree-related risks, reliable arboriculture evidence keeps your project on track. Our team helps you understand what’s required, when it’s needed and how to progress without unnecessary delays.
Which Survey do I need?
Every project has its own pressures, but most tree-related requirements follow clear, predictable triggers.
Use this guide to match your site conditions to the survey that fits your planning route and secure it early to keep your programme predictable.
Tree Survey for Planning (BS 5837)
When: your site contains trees or hedgerow trees, and you require BS 5837 evidence for planning or pre-application purposes.
Purpose: establish baseline data and root protection areas (RPAs) before planning layout lock-in.
Timing: Year-round.
Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA)
When: proposed works may affect retained trees or their RPAs, or the LPA requests an AIA alongside your BS 5837 survey.
Purpose: evaluate impacts, define protection, and provide proportionate mitigation.
Timing: Year-round.
Tree Health Survey
When: a tree appears unsafe, declining or damaged, or you need risk-based duty-of-care evidence.
Purpose: assess condition, structural integrity and management needs.
Timing: Year-round.
Tree Damage Survey
When: roots or branches may be affecting boundaries, paving or structures.
Purpose: confirm cause, extent and mitigation for tree-related damage.
Timing: Year-round
Subsidence Reports
When: buildings show movement on shrink–swell soils or insurers/engineers request root-related evidence.
Purpose: identify causal species, soil influence and realistic remedial options.
Timing: Year-round.
Mortgage & Insurance Tree Reports
When: a lender or insurer flags tree-related risk or requests formal verification.
Purpose: deliver fast, lender-compliant evidence with actionable findings.
Timing: Year-round.
TPO Applications & Appeals
When: protected trees require works, the council needs supporting evidence, or you’re responding to a refused consent.
Purpose: supply robust justification and manage submissions or appeals effectively.
Timing: Year-round.
Your Next Step
Not sure which survey you need? Contact us today!
Phone: 0800 494 7479
Email: [email protected]
Arboricultural Services FAQs
What Are Arboricultural Surveys?
Arboricultural surveys assess the condition, value and constraints of trees on or near your site.
These may include:
- individual trees
- groups, shelterbelts and hedgerow trees
- veteran and high-amenity specimens
- TPO-protected trees
- trees influencing foundations, services or boundaries
Tree surveys identify risks, root protection areas (RPAs), development constraints and opportunities for design integration.
Arboricultural surveys support:
- planning validation (BS 5837 compliant reports)
- layout design and feasibility
- construction method statements (tree protection, access, service runs)
- risk assessment for landowners
- insurance, mortgage and subsidence investigations
- TPO applications and appeals
If you’re unsure which survey applies to your project, we’ll clarify it quickly.
Why Arboricultural Surveys Matter
Trees are a material planning consideration.
Local planning authorities require evidence to ensure:
- safe retention of suitable trees
- protection of RPAs during construction
- designs respond to tree constraints
- high-amenity trees receive appropriate consideration
- risk is controlled and proportionate
- TPO legislation is correctly applied
A planned approach prevents:
- validation delays
- redesign of layouts
- construction stoppages due to tree conflicts
- enforcement issues
- damage to retained trees
- avoidable costs
Early tree surveys reduce risk and keep decisions predictable.
How ProHort Supports Your Project
Our approach is practical, proportionate and planning-aligned. You get:
- Clear, plain-English explanations
- BS 5837-aligned surveys and reports
- Accurate RPAs and constraints mapping
- Straightforward advice to keep your layout workable
- Tree Protection Plans (TPP) that match real-world site conditions
- Support with TPOs, planning queries and design negotiations
- Realistic, defensible next steps for your project team
From small extensions to large multi-plot schemes, we scale our support to your needs.
Our Arboricultural Services
These are the specialist surveys and reports we deliver across the full arboricultural discipline. Each service has its own dedicated page, method and planning role.
Tree Surveys for Planning (BS 5837)
BS 5837 tree categorisation, constraints mapping and site-specific advice.
Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA)
Impact reporting, design integration and construction-phase protection.
Tree Health Survey
Condition assessment, defect identification and practical management guidance.
Tree Damage Survey
Assessment of structural impacts, safety concerns and mitigation options.
Tree Subsidence Reports
Root-influence analysis, moisture-related risk assessment and insurer-aligned reporting.
Mortgage & Insurance Tree Reports
Clear, lender-compliant assessments for homebuyers and insurers.
TPO Applications & Appeals
Evidence-led support for applications, objections and appeals.