Arboricultural Impact Assessment vs. Arboricultural Method Statement

Arboricultural Impact Assessments (AIAs) and a Arboricultural Method Statement (AMSs) are both documents that you may be required to provide at various stages during your building project. Both have slightly different functions, so read on to see which one you may require.

Arboricultural Impact Assessment

This document is often produced during the early stages of a project. Also, this discusses the planned works and the impact that they could have on the trees. This document is often submitted along with a tree survey before an exact working methodology has been formulated. The council, or any other bodies, are allowed to make an informed decision as to what is required. An AIA may also contain a draft AMS.

Arboricultural Method Statement

This document is a site-specific, project-specific method statement which details the exact measures that any contractors should follow whilst completing construction work on site. It is often issued as work is about to commence and will be issued to a foreman or site manager as is applicable. This document is normally requested by your contractor a couple of weeks before the work begins. AMS documents can be relatively generic, but if you have any protected trees, site specific requirements, or if you were using particular methods of construction then you may need to produce this document.

Which one do I need?

It depends which stage your project is in – if you are in the planning stages, we would recommend an AIA. This would identify any site issues which may lead to you commissioning a more detailed AMS as a result of the AIA. If your work is about to commence, and you are concerned about the health or status of a particular tree, then you may need to investigate an Arboricultural Method Statement.

Here at ProHort we can complete Arboricultural Impact Assessments, visit our contact page to discuss what we can do for you.