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Department of the
Environment, Transport and the Regions
Tree Preservation Orders
A Guide to the Law and Good Practice
Code of Practice for Utility Operators
This code of practice restates the main points in: a.
Appendix B of DOE Circular 9/95 (General Development Order
Consolidation, published May 1995) on Non-Statutory
Consultation and Publicity in respect of Development by
Statutory Undertakers; b. the National Joint Utilities
Group’s Guidelines for the Planning, Installation and
Maintenance of Utility Services in Proximity to Trees ('NJUG
10', published April 1995). It applies to the following
utility operators: (1) gas, (2) electricity, (3)
telecommunication, including cable communication, and (4)
water or sewerage undertakers.
The 'precautionary area' means the area around a tree,
measured from the centre of the trunk, which is equal to
four times the trunk’s circumference.
The 'tree officer' means the appropriate officer of the
local district planning authority. There should be regular
informal contact between the utility operator and tree
officer in accordance with the advice given in DOE Circular
9/95 (Appendix B, paragraph 8–12). In particular, there
should be discussion between the tree officer and utility
operator to establish the areas where trees make an
important contribution to the quality and enjoyment of the
environment. In these areas the utility operator will
(except in emergencies) inform the tree officer before
carrying out any work on, or within the precautionary area
of, trees. Such areas might include: trees known to be
protected by TPOs (Tree Protection Orders). The tree officer
should respond promptly to requests by the utility operator
for information on TPOs; conservation areas, especially
those where trees were a factor in their designation; other
places which the tree officer considers locally distinctive
because of the nature and extent of the tree cover.
When working on or near trees (above or below ground), the
utility operator will follow the guidelines in NJUG 10. In
particular: excavation with machinery in the precautionary
area is totally unacceptable. Wherever possible trenchless
techniques should be used. Otherwise, trenches will be dug
carefully by hand – retaining as many roots as
possible; roots over 25mm in diameter will not be cut unless
the tree officer agrees beforehand.
When backfilling trenches, an inert granular material mixed
with top soil or sharp sand (NOT builders sand) will be
placed around the retained roots and compacted carefully. On
non-highway sites, only excavated soil will be used; heavy
mechanical plant must not be moved or used within the
precautionary area, except on existing hard surfaces.
In addition, equipment, spoil or building material
(including chemicals) must not be stored in the
precautionary area; if the trunk or branches of a tree are
damaged in any way, the utility operator will carry out any
remedial tree work recommended by the tree officer.
All tree work will be carried out in accordance with the
current British Standard.
The circumference of the tree should be measured at 1.5
metres above the natural ground level.
The current British Standard is BS 3998:1989,
Recommendations for Tree Work.
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