Protected Trees
The Council has specific powers to protect trees by making Tree Preservation Orders. There are currently approximately 550 Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) across the Borough
At present, plans of TPO sites can only be viewed by calling in the planning office but if you wish to obtain a copy of the full TPO Documentation (which includes the schedule and plan), this is also available from the planning office at a small cost. For any such queries please contact the Planning Administration Team.
If you wish to undertake work to trees protected by an order, you will need to apply to the Council for permission. We provide an application pack, including an application/notification form, guidance notes and a list of tree contractors who regularly submit applications to the department. Please contact the Planning Administration Team for information.
Special provisions also apply to trees within conservation areas. You need to notify the Council before undertaking works to trees in conservation areas, which can be done using the form.
What happens to my application?
We aim to visit the site within 6 weeks and currently determine over 90% of works to trees applications within this timescale. In practice we often visit within a week of application and welcome on site meetings in order to discuss applications and offer advice. We undertake visits with the Council's arboricultural officer to assess applications.
In determining applications, we approve the majority of cases. However in the case of a refusal of consent an applicant has the right of appeal to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister against a decision made by the Council, details of which are included with the decision notice.
Further information
We have produced a range of leaflets and guidance notes with regard to protected trees, applications for works to trees. The following guidance notes are available to download:
- TPO Note 1: The scope and purpose of Tree Preservation Orders (PDF 129Kb)
- TPO Note 3: Relevant considerations in respect of applications to fell protected trees (PDF 57Kb)
- TPO Note 4: Schedule of replacement trees suitable for the Oldham area (PDF 42Kb)
- TPO Note 5: List of tree contractors and consultants (PDF 51Kb)
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