Need a tree survey in Salford?

Development in the Salford area of Greater Manchester

Salford is an increasingly built-up area, making trees and green areas invaluable in improving the environment. If there are trees on or close to your development site, tree surveys will likely be required as part of the planning process.

Salford lies on the western side of Greater Manchester and shares boundaries with Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Trafford, Wigan and Warrington. Over 30% of Salford’s land area is Green Belt, and it includes 235 listed buildings, 16 conservation areas, two registered parks and gardens, along with green spaces, canals and woodlands.

Salford city centre and Salford Quays, home of MediaCity UK, have seen significant investment and growth in recent years, and employment, retail, leisure and cultural facilities are focused here. While increasing numbers of people aim to live and work there, boosting prosperity, there are surrounding areas of deprivation such as Little Hulton and Eccles, along with affluent areas such as Worsley and Boothstown.

The Local Plan

The Salford Local Plan, adopted in January 2023, sets out the city’s development and environmental policies. While progress has been made in regenerating the city, challenges include meeting future development and housing needs, protecting the environment, minimising contributions to climate change and reducing flood risk and flooding impacts. The city council declared a climate emergency in July 2019, and Salford aims to be carbon neutral by 2038: all development will need to play a part through location, design, density and sustainability.

Using previously developed land and efficient land use are priorities: a key target is to deliver at least 85% of new housing on previously developed land. Other aims include creating more green infrastructure, improving air quality and reducing pollution, delivering more adaptable homes to meet a range of needs and protecting and enhancing the environment.

Protected trees

Two main designations protect trees: tree preservation orders protect individual trees, while several trees can be protected by conservation area status. Your local planning authority in the Salford area will be able to advise you as to whether you will need to submit a tree survey alongside your application for planning permission.

If an application for planning permission is submitted without a tree survey when one is needed, the application will be delayed and could be refused. Any damage caused to trees without the correct permission can lead to fines and prosecution.

BS5837 Tree Surveys

When you are informed that you need a tree survey in Salford, the first step is to seek professional advice from an arboricultural consultancy and arrange a British Standard BS5837 tree survey. A qualified tree surveyor will make a site visit and inspect the tree stock on and adjacent to the proposed development site. Each tree will be graded from category A to category U according to its condition, size, life expectancy and ecological importance. Root protection areas around trees will also be assessed during tree surveys.

A site plan will indicate the best trees in category A which should be retained, while inferior quality trees may be destroyed: compensatory planting of new trees may be required. Arboricultural consultants will recommend practical solutions for dealing with all the trees on the proposed development site, and will create a CAD drawing detailing each tree present.

Sometimes further tree surveys are needed and can include an arboricultural impact assessment, a tree protection plan, a tree constraints plan, arborical supervision and site monitoring. If valuable habitats or protected species are identified on the site, an ecological survey may be required.

Further tree surveys

Before approving a mortgage application, a lender may require a mortgage tree report or a pre-purchase tree survey. Trees will be examined to see if they pose a potential risk to property or people, and remedial action such as tree surgery may be recommended if this is the case. Tree owners may need a tree condition survey to address tree risk and health and safety concerns. If species protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 are found on the site, an ecological survey may be needed.

Looking for arboricultural consultancy services in Salford?

It’s prudent to identify an arboricultural consultancy with experience in carrying out a comprehensive range of tree surveys for the local authority you are dealing with.

The firm should employ fully qualified arboricultural consultants who hold the relevant licences, enabling them to offer professional advice about trees and planning applications.