Information for Applicants

Trees and High Hedges

The City of Westminster lies at the heart of the nation’s capital and its trees, whether in parks, open spaces, in private gardens or on the streets, make a significant contribution to London’s reputation as one of the worlds greenest cities.

Many trees on privately owned land are protected either by Tree Preservation Orders or because the property is situated in a Conservation Area.  It is a criminal offence to carry out tree surgery or to remove trees protected in these ways without following the procedures outlined below.  Some trees on development sites are also protected by specific conditions on planning permissions to ensure their protection during development.

You can contact the Tree Section to check if your trees are protected by a Tree Preservation Order.

You can check if your property and trees are within a Conservation Area here.

You can Search Planning Applications online to check if Trees on a development site are protected by planning conditions, and view details of existing decisions.

Trees protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs)

Over 650 TPOs within the City of Westminster protect thousands of trees.  TPOs are made to protect trees for the public's enjoyment.  If you wish to carry out almost any work to a protected tree, you must first gain the City Council's consent.  To make a formal application, you must use the standard form below or apply online via the Planning Portal.

• Standard Application Form
• Guidance notes for completing a tree application / notification

Trees in Conservation Areas

If you propose to carry out almost any work to a tree in a conservation area, you must first give the City Council at least six weeks notice in writing, (a section 211 notice).  The purpose of this requirement is to give the City Council an opportunity to consider whether a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) should be made in respect of the tree(s).

To make a formal notification, you can use the standard application form, apply online via the Planning Portal or write to us at the address below.

• Standard Application Form
• Guidance notes for completing a tree application / notification

More information

• Additional information about protected trees
• List of tree contractors

Trees on Development Sites

The leaflet 'Trees and Other Planting on Development Sites’ provides guidance for property owners, architects, planners and developers on retaining and protecting existing trees and incorporating new planting and landscaping into new developments.

High Hedges

Part 8 of the Anti Social Behaviour Act 2003 allows residents to seek the intervention of the Council when they have been unable to resolve a problem with a neighbour’s hedge.

For the legislation to apply the hedge must comprise 2 or more trees/shrubs, be more than 2m tall, be mostly evergreen or semi-evergreen and be capable of obstructing light or views.

If it is decided that a hedge adversely affects the reasonable enjoyment of the neighbour’s home and garden, the Council can issue a remedial notice to the owner of the hedge setting out what must be done to reduce the height of the hedge, the timescale for doing the work and what is required to prevent the problem happening again.

The leaflet High Hedges: Complaining to the council provides further information. 

• Complain about a High Hedge
• High Hedges complaint - guidance notes
  

Contact us

Westminster City Hall
Environment and Leisure (Tree Section)
64 Victoria Street
London SW1E 6QP
Tel: 020 7641 2922 / 6096
Fax: 020 7641 2959
Email: bmilne@westminster.gov.uk
pakers@westminster.gov.uk