Root Protection Areas
What are Root Protection Areas?
These are normally in connection to tree surveys and the construction of an extension or a new build. As the name indicates the objective is to create an area where excavation does not take place or heavy construction traffic does not enter. By restricting the access of vehicles, the storage of materials and excavation within this area we are protecting the roots of the tree(s) and ensuring they are safe and free to flourish.
Root protection areas are always included in Tree surveys that are carried out to the British Standard 5837:2012. As qualified arboriculturists we have the added benefit of having years of experience dealing with Local Planning Authorities. For you this means we can ensure that everything is included in the report that your Local Planning Authority will require and that it is in a format that will satisfy their requirements. The benefit to you is that your planning permission will go through unhindered!
How Do You Calculate Root Protections Areas?
This is calculated from information gathered from the Tree survey, in particular the diameter of the trunk at 1.5m is a necessary measurement to calculate the RPA. To calculate the diameter, you measure the circumference of the tree and divide by 3.14156 (pi). This will give you the accurate diameter and you then multiply this by 12 to give you the radius of the RPA.
How We Lay Out Our RPA's:
As can be seen below the trees are identified and placed on a Land registry title deed plan. We then overlap the “Crown spread” and this is colour coded to the Category of tree. The Root Protection Area is then laid on top of this. By doing this it clearly identifies the area that should not be accessed by machines, materials, or people excavating.
As this plan was for a Tree Subsidence report we have also included where we took the soil sample from.
Can I Build Over the Root Protection Zone?
There are a number of ways around this. Firstly, we could look at what the tree has been categorised as and whether it be removed. If the tree has been categorised as a C1 this means it has low value and there should be little reason as to why it cannot be removed. If the tree had been categorised as “B1” or “A1” tree it would be far more difficult to argue it should be removed.
Where the tree can not be removed and the proposed building works cannot be moved to outside the root protection area, we then need to work with the architect. There are certain types of foundation that are not recommended within the root protection area such as trench foundations. However other types of foundation such as pile foundations can work well. If digging is required to take place within the root protection area, we can use an air spade to ensure no damage to the root system occurs.
Contact Us for More Information on Root Protection Areas:
If you need a Tree survey or a report identifying the Root Protection Area then please do get in touch on 01782 479479 or email us email us on: [email protected].