If you’re planning an extension, a new build, or any development near existing trees in Chester, there’s a good chance your local planning authority will ask for a tree survey before your application is even validated. This guide explains what that survey involves, when it’s required, and how our tree health and maintenance team can help you avoid delays.

What Is a BS5837 Tree Survey?

A BS5837 tree survey (sometimes called a tree report or arboricultural report) is a structured assessment of the trees on or near a development site, carried out to the British Standard BS5837:2012 ‘Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction’. It’s the foundation document that most other tree-related planning paperwork builds on.

The survey typically identifies:

• The location, species, size, and condition of every relevant tree on or adjacent to the site
• A retention category for each tree, from A (high quality, long-term value) down to U (unsuitable for retention)
• Root Protection Areas (RPAs) — the below-ground zone that must be protected during construction
• Any existing TPO or conservation area status affecting the trees

Do You Actually Need One?

Most local planning authorities in the UK require a BS5837 survey as part of their validation checklist wherever trees are on or near a proposed development — and this applies even to household extensions, not just large commercial schemes. If your application is missing this document, many councils will simply refuse to validate it, meaning the statutory determination clock doesn’t even start until it’s resubmitted.

As a rough guide, a survey is very likely required if:

• Trees sit within falling distance of the proposed building work
• Excavation, new driveways, or services will run near existing root systems
• The site includes trees with a TPO or sits in a conservation area
• The council’s own validation checklist lists a tree survey as a requirement (worth checking directly before you apply)

What the Report Delivers

A full BS5837 package can include several linked documents depending on what your council asks for:

• Tree Survey and Schedule — the core data on every tree, including retention category.
• Tree Constraints Plan — a drawing showing tree positions, canopy spread, and root protection areas.
• Arboricultural Impact Assessment — how the proposed development affects the trees, and vice versa.
• Arboricultural Method Statement — how construction will proceed without damaging retained trees.
• Tree Protection Plan — practical fencing and protection measures for the build phase.

How Long Does It Take?

From site visit to final report is typically a couple of weeks, though this varies with site size and how many trees are involved. Building this into your project timeline early avoids the most common cause of planning delay: submitting an application, having it bounced back at validation for a missing survey, and losing a month or more waiting for one to be commissioned and completed.

Who Can Carry Out the Survey?

BS5837 requires the survey to be carried out by someone suitably qualified and experienced in arboriculture. Councils give the most weight to reports produced by qualified arborists with relevant professional indemnity insurance, so it’s worth confirming credentials and cover before commissioning one.

Tree Survey vs Tree Preservation Order — Not the Same Thing

A tree’s retention category in a BS5837 survey reflects its arboricultural quality, not its legal protection status. A tree can be Category A (high value) with no TPO at all, or a lower-category tree can still be legally protected. Always check both separately — see our guide to Tree Preservation Orders for more on how TPOs work locally.

Supporting Development Projects Across the Area

We work with homeowners, architects, and developers across Chester, Wrexham, Ellesmere Port, and Runcorn to get tree surveys and any follow-on tree felling and removal or land and site clearing sorted early, so planning applications aren’t held up by tree-related paperwork.

FAQs

Do I need a tree survey for a small house extension?

Possibly, yes — even household applications can require one if trees are within influencing distance of the works; check your council’s validation checklist or ask an arborist to assess the site.

What’s the difference between a tree survey and an arboricultural report?

The tree survey is the foundational data-gathering document; ‘arboricultural report’ is often used more loosely to describe any of the linked BS5837 documents built from that survey.

Can a Category U tree still need council permission to remove?

Yes — if it’s covered by a TPO or sits in a conservation area, permission is still required regardless of its arboricultural category.

How much does a tree survey cost?

Costs vary with site size and number of trees; a straightforward household survey is generally more affordable than a large multi-tree commercial site — get a quote based on your specific plot.

Need a tree survey for a planning application in Chester or nearby? Get in touch for a quote: Contact Us