Trees are important to the quality of our lives because:
- they make Lewisham a more attractive place in which to live and work
- they are a familiar and cherished feature of many parts of Lewisham
- they provide a valuable habitat for wildlife
- they act as a barrier to noise
- they produce oxygen, trap dust in their leaves and absorb carbon dioxide and other pollutants.
Because of their importance to the environment, the Town and Country Planning Act gives local authorities powers to protect trees in conservation areas, and to make tree preservation orders.
Tree preservation orders
Individual trees or groups of trees which make a particularly important contribution to the public amenity of an area are often protected by a tree preservation order (TPO).
This may be because of their contribution to the landscape, their intrinsic beauty, their scarcity, or simply because they screen an eyesore. To justify a TPO the trees should usually be visible from a public place, so trees in back gardens are not normally eligible.
Approval from the Council is required for felling or pruning a tree that is subject to a TPO. You can download an application form on the right or request a form from the planning information office, whose contact details are below.
Applications are considered by balancing the value of the tree to the community against the reasons put forward for its removal.
If an application is refused the applicant has the right of appeal to the Secretary of State. New TPOs are made regularly by the Council in response to requests from local residents and groups.
Trees in conservation areas
Trees often form an important part of the character of Lewisham's conservation areas, especially those visible from public areas. The law requires that anyone planning to cut down or carry out work to a tree in a conservation area must give the Council six weeks notice of their intention to do so.
Notification must be made in writing giving details of tree species, its location and the nature of the work to carried out or you can download an application form. Follow the link on the right to download a form.
Unauthorised works to trees
Carrying out works to trees subject to a TPO or in a conservation area without approval can be a criminal offence and could lead to prosecution. There are some exceptions, such as when a tree is dead, dying or dangerous and action needs to be taken quickly for safety reasons.
Tree contractors
You can download a list of tree contractors and consultants who regularly work in the borough. Their presence on the list does not a constitute any recommendation or guarantee of the quality of their work by the Council.
High hedges
Under the High Hedges part of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003, local authorities have the power to deal with complaints about hedges blocking out light to peoples’ homes and gardens.
However, the complainant must show that all reasonable measures, such as requesting the hedge owner to reduce the hedge, have been taken to resolve the situation before the Council will take formal action.
A hedge is defined as two or more evergreen or semi-evergreen trees in a line.
An application form is available from the Planning Information Service or from the Department for Communities and Local Government.