Tree Preservation Orders in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Across the UK, a Tree Preservation Order protects specific trees, groups or woodlands for their value to the area. While an order is in force, cutting down, pruning, uprooting or wilfully damaging a protected tree generally needs the planning authority's consent, and working without it is a criminal offence.

Each nation also gives trees in conservation areas some protection, through a requirement to notify the authority before work. And everywhere, the local planning authority, not a national body, holds the records.

Wales uses the same Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as England, with its own regulations on making orders and applying for consent. The system will feel familiar to anyone who knows the English one, including the six weeks' notice for trees in conservation areas.

Applications go to the local planning authority, which in Wales is the county or county borough council, or a national park authority.

Scotland has its own Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and regulations made under it. Orders are made by the planning authority, which is the council or, in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, the national park authority.

Scotland also requires notice before work to trees in conservation areas. Appeals go to the Scottish Government's planning appeals division rather than the Planning Inspectorate.

In Northern Ireland, tree protection is set out in the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. Since planning powers moved to local government in 2015, the 11 district councils make and enforce most orders.

As elsewhere, trees in conservation areas also have protection, and the council is the place to confirm whether a particular tree is covered.

1. 1Find your local planning authority from your address.
2. 2Look for a TPO map or register on its website. Many publish one, but coverage varies.
3. 3Contact the tree officer or planning department about the specific address.
4. 4Ask whether the property is also in a conservation area.
5. 5Get written confirmation before any work.

Our postcode check uses national planning data that covers English authorities only, so a blank result in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland tells you nothing. Always ask the council.