Bromley’s tree management strategy policies

Policy 7

Excavation and utility companies

When undertaking excavation works near to street trees, workers must adhere to the guidelines as set out in the revised national joint utility guidelines: guidelines for the planning, installation and maintenance of utility apparatus in proximity to trees (NJUG 4, 2007) unless otherwise formally agreed in writing with one of the council’s tree officers.

Policy description

N/A

Implementation

Ongoing maintenance of the highway, utilities, service routes and street furniture is essential to ensuring that public infrastructure continue to operate effectively. However, this work has the potential to disturb the borough’s trees as work often requires excavation and construction within the root zone of trees, hence workers must comply with the national joint utility guidelines to minimise impact on trees.

Strategic objective delivery

SO1, SO4

Policy 8

Vehicular crossover applications

The council will consider tree removal for vehicle cross-over applications only where the outcome is supported by good arboricultural practice. The applicant will be expected to fund the removal of the tree and pay compensation for its loss, which will be calculated using the CAVAT* valuation methodology.

Policy description

In accordance with the vehicular crossover policy, the council retains the right to reject a cross over application of the construction necessitates the removal of a healthy, established tree.

Implementation

If the council agrees to the removal of a tree for a vehicular crossover application, the applicant will be required to pay for:

• The cost of the removal of the tree.

• The cost of planting a suitable replacement tree (under Policy 4) and compensation for the loss of the tree.

The council will not approve the removal of trees in conservation areas or trees protection by a TPO for a vehicular crossover, except in exceptional circumstances.

Strategic objective delivery

S01, SO2, SO3, SO4

Policy 9

Phased removal of street trees

Where trees are in conflict with the footway, highway or properties, the council will seek to remove individual specimens which cannot continue to be maintained sustainably.

Policy description

The council accepts that there have been instances of poor species selection in the past – for example, Norway Maples with a shallow root system have been planted directly into the footway.

On reaching maturity, some of these trees have caused considerable damage to footway or highway surfacing, and/or properties.

Implementation

Because of the number of instances and costs associated with removal, the council will implement a phased removal programme, prioritised according to risk and with trees considered on a case-by-case basis. Replacement trees will be planted in the following two planting seasons.

Strategic objective delivery

SO1, SO2, SO3