How Much Does TPO Consent Cost?

• Applying for consent to work on a tree with a TPO. There's no council fee.
• Giving notice of work to a tree in a conservation area.
• Asking the council to make a TPO on a tree you want protected.
• Objecting to a new TPO.
• Appealing a refused application to the Planning Inspectorate.

Some councils charge for pre-application advice from a tree officer, and many give basic guidance by phone or email for free. Check your council's website.

• An arborist's or arboriculturist's report. Not always needed, but it makes an application much stronger, especially for felling, heavy pruning or a claim that a tree is causing damage.
• A structural engineer's report, if you say a tree is damaging a building.
• The tree work itself, from an insured tree surgeon.
• A replacement tree, if the council's consent requires one.

Prices vary widely by area and tree size, so get more than one quote and check what's included.

Cutting down, uprooting or wilfully destroying a protected tree without consent is a criminal offence with an unlimited fine, and each tree is a separate offence. Courts take account of any money made from the work, such as the value added to a development site.

Lesser damage, such as unauthorised pruning, can be fined up to £2,500. On top of any fine, the landowner can be required to plant a replacement tree, and there are legal costs.

If the council refuses consent, or grants it with conditions, and you suffer loss or damage as a result, you may be able to claim compensation from the council. Claims must be made within 12 months of the decision, and there's no compensation for losses under £500.

The rules on what's recoverable are detailed, and claims often turn on whether the damage was foreseeable when the decision was made. Take advice before you rely on one.