The design and construction process and tree care

The newly published BS 5837:2012 Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction – Recommendations has adopted the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) work stages as their template for putting trees at the heart of the design process: a detailed flow diagram is included as Figure 1 of that new standard (due to come into force on 30 April 2012).

The ideal times to instruct an arboricultural professional to ensure that all tree related constraints are considered at the right time in the process, in order to prevent tree-related delays with an application, can be mapped onto, as follows;

Phase 1 – Feasibility and planning

A - Feasibility study

·         Topographical survey, and soil assessment (Clause 4.2 and 4.3 of  BS 5837:2012)

·         Tree survey (Clause 4.4)

·         Tree categorisation (Clause 4.5)

B - Design brief

·         Identify tree constraints and root protection areas (Clause 4.5, 4.6 and 6)

C - Conceptual design

·         Identify and review potential trees for retention and removal (clause 5)

D - Design development

·         Prepare the tree protection plan (Clause 5.5)

·         Prepare new planting and landscape proposals (Clause 5.6)

At this point in the process scheme design approvals are required, from the client, customer and regulatory bodies.

Phase 2 - Detailed technical design

E - Technical design

·         Resolve the tree protection proposals (Clause 6.2)

·         Agree new utility apparatus locations, routes and arboricultural methodologies (Clause 6.1 and 7)

F - Production information

·         Schedule trees for removal and for pre-construction tree works (including those works required to facilitate access to the scheme) (Clause 5.4 and 8.8)

G - Tender documentation

·         Identify the tree protection measures required (Clause 6.2) and ensure that they are included in all the relevant documents.

Phases 1 and 2 are essential parts of the planning and pre-commencement stages of development.   

Once Phase 3 commences it is essential that the tree issues are fully understood and that the tree-related conditions of the consent are properly implemented to help to ensure the future well-being of the trees that are to be retained as part of the permitted development.

It is recommended that a competent arboriculturist project manage all the tree issues associated with the permitted development, for example pre-construction tree works, tree protection measures and any other tree-related matters that may arise.   The benefits are two-fold:

·         this should prevent unnecessary damage to trees that are to be retained, and

·         where trees are accidentally damaged, the necessary remedial works can be identified, approved and implemented.

Any such incidents should be recorded on the project’s Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 Health and Safety file to provide proof that the appropriate remedial works were undertaken should the tree fail in the future.

Given the above, the following is recommended for the third and final stage of development – Implementation and aftercare.

Phase 3 - Implementation and aftercare

H - Tender action

·         Tender documents to be reviewed by the competent arboriculturist prior to publication

J – Mobilization

·         Pre-commencement meeting with Project/Site Manager, local planning authority Tree Officer and arboricultural consultant

·         Preparation and approval of site monitoring and intervention protocols (Clause 6.3)

·         physical barriers erected (Claue 6.3)

·         site clearance and demolition works (Clause 7)

·         acces storage and working areas defined (Caluse 6)

·         construction works (Clause 7)

·         new planting (Clause 8)

K - Construction to practical completion

·         Implementation of approved site monitoring protocols (Caluse 6.3)

L – Post-practical completion

·         Final inspection of trees and final arboricultural monitoring programme report (Clause 8.8)

·         recommendations for post-completion management (Clause 8.8)

·         remedial tree work if required

If the arboricultural elements of any prospective development are undertaken as detailed above, it will, without doubt, enhance the chances of success and prevent any tree-related delays to the planning process, thereby saving the customer both time and money.