What is a Tree Survey?
A Tree Survey is one of the first technical steps in understanding a site’s development potential. It identifies the species, health, size and location of every tree on or near a proposed development site. Done correctly, it prevents planning delays, informs good design, and ensures compliance with both British Standards and local authority policy.
In the old world, commissioning a Tree Survey could take weeks of finding surveyors, assessing quotes and managing surveyors. RenKap changes that. As the first Site Survey Marketplace, we give property professionals instant access to multiple, like-for-like quotes from vetted tree surveyors across the UK — making the process faster, compliant, and risk-free.
Introduction
A Tree Survey records the condition, location, and species of every tree on a site. Each tree is measured and categorised based on its height, canopy spread, age, life expectancy, and Root Protection Area (RPA) — the area around a tree that must remain undisturbed during construction.
Tree Surveys are governed by BS5837:2012 – Trees in Relation to Design, Demolition and Construction, the industry standard used by all Local Planning Authorities. This standard ensures trees are assessed correctly and that development proposals protect them appropriately.
Tree Surveys are the foundation for the Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA), a follow-up report that evaluates how proposed works might affect retained trees and provides recommendations for mitigation or design adjustment.
When Is a Tree Survey Needed?
A Tree Survey is required whenever a development might affect existing trees — even if the trees are slightly outside the site boundary.
You’ll need one when:
- Designing a scheme on a site with trees.
- Submitting a planning application where trees may be impacted.
- Developing sites near woodland, mature trees, or conservation areas.
- Preparing for demolition or new build works that could disturb roots or canopies.
- Assessing sites with Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs).
Carrying out the Tree survey early allows the design team to incorporate tree constraints into the layout, avoiding clashes, redesigns and resubmissions later. It also highlights if some trees may be of low quality or damaged which could potentially be removed.
Who Needs a Tree Survey?
BS5837 Tree Surveys are essential for several disciplines involved in development:
- Architects – to design layouts to maximise developable area.
- Planners and Consultants – to satisfy Local Authority validation requirements.
- Developers and Local Authorities – to de-risk sites before purchase or planning.
- Project Managers and QSs – to align surveys with the wider technical programme.
Ignoring trees until later stages typically results in planning refusals, redesign costs, and delays — all avoidable with early, accurate data.
What Does a Tree Survey Include?
A professional Tree Survey includes:
Data Type | Description |
Tree Reference | Unique ID for each tree or group |
Species | Botanical and common name |
Height and Spread | Dimensions of tree canopy |
Stem Diameter | Used to calculate Root Protection Area |
Health and Condition | Visual assessment of vitality and defects |
Life Expectancy | Short, medium, or long term |
BS5837 Category | A, B, C, or U rating reflecting quality and retention value |
RPA (Root Protection Area) | Zone requiring protection during works |
Data from a Tree Survey feeds into an Arboricultural Impact Assessment, helping design teams understand what can be built, what must be retained, and what mitigation (if any) is needed.
Why Tree Surveys Are Crucial for Project Success
Ignoring trees is one of the most common causes of delay at planning stage.
A BS5837 Tree Survey:
De-risks your project by flagging constraints early.
Prevents costly redesigns caused by unaccounted RPAs.
Supports planning compliance, ensuring your submission meets BS5837 and local policy.
Protects the environment, aligning developments with biodiversity and sustainability goals.
Put simply: you can’t plan confidently without understanding your site’s trees.
How RenKap Simplifies Tree Surveys
Traditional survey procurement is slow — multiple calls, separate quotes, and manual comparisons.
RenKap removes that friction.
Through our Site Survey Marketplace, you can:
Get multiple comparable BS5837 tree survey quotes instantly – absolutely free and no chasing or guesswork.
Tender, procure, and manage BS5837 tree surveys in one place – one upload, full visibility.
Work only with vetted tree surveyors across the UK – every supplier has gone through a thorough pre-qualification process to be on our platform.
Receive automated digital risk summaries – showing which trees constrain design and what to do next.
All outputs from our tree surveys are compliant with BS5837:2012 and accessible to your entire project team.
Understanding Your Tree Survey Cost
Before you instruct, it’s worth knowing what drives cost.
Factors include:
- Site size and number of trees.
- Whether individual or grouped tree assessments are required.
- Complexity of access and topography.
- Follow-on requirements like AIA, Arboricultural Method Statement (AMS) or Tree Constraints Plan.
Understand your BS5837 tree survey cost before getting quotes. Learn more about how much BS5837 tree surveys cost here.
Conclusion
Tree Surveys are more than a box-ticking exercise — they’re a planning requirement that directly shapes design, compliance, and risk. Whether you’re an architect, planner, or developer, commissioning the right survey early saves time, cost, and headaches later.
RenKap is the first Site Survey Marketplace. We give property professionals instant access to multiple, like-for-like quotes from vetted surveyors across all survey types—from tree and asbestos to utilities and UXO. One upload. Instant multiple prices. Full compliance. No chasing.
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