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Planning submission and technical reporting

BS5837 Tree Report Surrey

A clear planning document that explains the tree survey, the development context and the arboricultural evidence needed for the application.

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What this document is for

BS5837 Tree Report for Surrey projects

A tree report for planning turns raw survey information into a document the project team and Local Planning Authority can actually use. It explains what was surveyed, which trees matter to the proposal, how the information should influence design and which additional plans or assessments are needed for the current planning stage.

The right level of reporting depends on the project. A straightforward domestic extension may need concise, focused evidence. A replacement dwelling, infill scheme or larger development can require a fuller explanation of retention, removal, Root Protection Areas, access, surfacing, drainage and construction constraints. The report should answer the planning question without burying it in unnecessary material.

If you have already been told that a “tree report” is required, send the exact wording with the latest drawings. We can check whether the request is for the survey/report stage or whether the authority is really asking for an AIA, AMS, TPP or another specific document.

What you receive

The exact output is matched to the project, but the core deliverables normally include the items below. If the council has supplied its own wording, that request is reviewed first so the proposal is built around the live requirement.

Planning-focused written arboricultural report
Survey findings and tree schedule presented clearly
Explanation of tree constraints relevant to the proposal
Coordination with current drawings
Recommendations for the next BS5837 stage
Digital report ready for the project team to circulate

Technical detail

What makes the work useful to planning and design teams.

The aim is not to produce a long report for its own sake. The information should answer the project question clearly and remain consistent with the drawings being used.

Clear planning narrative

A good report lets a planner understand the arboricultural position without reconstructing it from separate drawings and schedules. The text should explain what matters and why.

Consistent references

Tree numbers, categories, RPAs and drawing references should match across the report package. Consistency makes the submission easier to audit and reduces avoidable clarification requests.

Proportionate detail

The report should be detailed enough for the actual proposal. More pages are not automatically better; the objective is to provide the evidence the decision maker needs.

A route into later stages

Where further design or construction information is needed, the report should make that progression obvious so the architect and client know what comes next.

Before the document is issued

Quality control that keeps the information usable.

A useful BS5837 report should make the planning position easier to understand, not harder. Before issue, the narrative, tree schedule and drawing references need to tell the same story. Where the proposal has changed during design, the report should be checked against the current revision rather than an earlier layout.

The report should also be proportionate. A domestic extension does not benefit from pages of generic text that never address the actual tree relationship. A more complex redevelopment may need much more explanation. The scope is therefore built around the site, the design and the authority request rather than a fixed page count.

Finally, the document should make the next decision obvious. If another BS5837 stage is needed, it should be clear why and when. If the current document completes the immediate requirement, the client should not be pushed into commissioning extra work simply because it exists on a service list.

Where it fits in the BS5837 sequence

Survey first. Then use the next document only when the project is ready for it.

Most development projects near trees follow a recognisable sequence: establish the tree resource, map the constraints, assess the actual proposal, then set out the protection and construction methods needed to deliver it. Not every small project needs every document, and not every document should be commissioned at the same time.

If you are still designing, early survey and constraints information may be the most valuable spend. If you already have a stable layout, the impact assessment becomes more relevant. If planning permission is in place, the focus often moves to AMS, TPP and supervision. The quote should reflect the stage you are actually at.

01SurveyRecord the trees and establish the evidence base.
02ConstraintsMap crowns and RPAs for design.
03AssessmentTest the live proposal against the tree resource.
04Construction detailSet out protection, methods and supervision.

Common project situations

When clients normally ask for BS5837 Tree Report.

If your situation is not listed, send the actual request. The site and planning stage are more important than matching a generic example.

Planning validation request says “tree report”

Survey exists but written planning evidence is missing

Revised proposal needs the arboricultural position updated

Architect needs one coordinated report package for submission

Information that speeds up the quote

Show us the project as it exists today.

Send the site address, current architectural drawing, topographical survey if available, and the exact wording from the council, tree officer, Building Control or project consultant. Include any earlier tree survey or report too. Existing information may still be useful and should be checked before repeat work is recommended.

If there is a submission date, condition-discharge deadline or construction start date, include that at the beginning. Programme can affect what needs to happen first.

Questions

BS5837 Tree Report FAQs

These are general planning answers. Your council condition or validation request may be more specific.

Is a BS5837 tree report different from the survey?

The survey gathers the site data. The report presents and interprets that information for the planning process and may sit alongside plans or further assessments.

Can I send you the council request first?

Yes. That is often the quickest way to establish what the authority actually wants.

Will the report include an AIA?

Only where that is within the agreed scope. An AIA is a specific assessment of a proposed layout and may be a separate deliverable.

Can an older report be updated?

Sometimes. Send the previous document and the current drawings so its suitability can be checked before a repeat survey is recommended.

Is the report suitable for Surrey planning authorities?

The scope is matched to the project and the current authority requirement rather than using one generic report for every application.

BS5837 Tree Report · Surrey

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