Trees in Conservation Areas

All trees in Conservation Areas are protected from unnecessary felling or lopping by the 1990 Town & Country Planning Act.

How do I get permission to work on a tree in a Conservation Area? 

The law requires that anyone proposing to cut down or carry out any work on ANY tree in a Conservation Area must give the Council six weeks notice of their intentions. Work may only be undertaken either when permission has been given or the six weeks has expired.

For more advice contact Trees and Landscaping at ContactTrees@eppingforestdc.gov.uk .

What if I undertake work without permission? 

For cutting down or destroying a tree, a fine of up to £20,000 can be imposed – and the landowner is also required to replace the tree that was removed. For less serious offences the penalty is a fine of up to £2,500.

What form do I need to fill in to request permission? 

You will need to submit three copies of the Application for consent to carry out works on Protected Trees form, if you need any help on how to complete this form guidance notes are also available to download.  A guide to tree protection can be found Tree Preservation Order pages of this site. 

What additional Planning Restrictions apply in Conservation Areas?