A Tree Preservation Order, usually shortened to TPO, is an order made by the local council to protect a specific tree, group of trees, or wooded area. Any work on a tree under a TPO needs prior consent from the council, and the rules apply whether the owner of the tree is a private homeowner, a business, a developer, or anyone else with control of the land.
When a TPO applies
TPOs are particularly common across Chester and Cheshire on older significant trees, on properties in conservation areas, and on plots where a development has been required to retain trees as part of its planning consent. It is worth knowing that a tree can carry a TPO without the current owner being told when they bought the property, and the duty to comply still applies. The same goes for trees within a conservation area, where there are notification requirements even if no specific TPO has been served.
You can check whether a tree on your property is protected by looking at the Cheshire West and Chester Council interactive map. Click here to be taken to the council map, which shows TPO and conservation area boundaries. For properties in Flintshire and Wrexham, the relevant Welsh authorities run their own equivalent systems, and we are happy to check the position before quoting.
What work needs consent
Most tree work on a protected tree needs prior written consent from the council. That includes felling, topping, lopping, uprooting, and wilful damage or destruction. It also covers significant pruning work such as crown reduction and crown thinning where the work goes beyond minor maintenance. Even deadwooding can need consent in some circumstances, and we always check before quoting.
The council has a statutory period of eight weeks to consider a TPO application from the date it is properly submitted. That timing matters when planning work, particularly if you are trying to get a job done before a sale completes or before a season changes. We build the timing into the schedule rather than discovering it late.
The risks of not applying
It is a criminal offence to cut down, top, lop, uproot or wilfully damage a tree subject to a TPO without consent. The fines on conviction can be substantial, and councils do prosecute. Even with smaller breaches, an enforcement notice and the requirement to replace the tree can be expensive. The simple answer is to check first and apply where consent is needed.
How we help
Our team at Absolute Tree Care and Gardens handles TPO applications on behalf of owners across Chester, Cheshire and North Wales. We check whether a tree is protected before we quote any major work. Where consent is needed we prepare the application, set out the work proposed with proper justification, and submit it to the council on the owner’s behalf. The fee for submitting the application is included in the price for the tree work itself.
We have a strong track record of getting sensible work approved. The council is usually reasonable when the case is well made, and a good application explains the work, the reasoning and the long-term outcome for the tree clearly.
Free no-obligation quote
If you have a tree you think may be protected, or you have already had a notice from the council, call Daniel Gilfoyle on 07872 394 540 or 01244 314 065 for a free no-obligation quote and TPO check, or email info@absolutetreecareandgardens.co.uk. We come out, look at the tree, check the status, and put a written price and plan in front of you before any work starts.
