Coventry’s trees and environmental landscape
This historic city in the West Midlands has undergone significant regeneration in recent years while continuing to prioritise its natural environment. As the UK’s City of Culture in 2021, Coventry is known not only for its post-war architecture and cultural landmarks, but also for its impressive network of green spaces and tree-lined streets. With a built-up area that spans urban, suburban and rural fringes, the city has adopted strong policies around environmental protection, making tree surveys in Coventry an essential part of any planned development.
Among its most notable green assets is the War Memorial Park, a 120-acre public space offering mature woodland, open fields and ornamental trees, providing vital habitat and recreational opportunities in close proximity to the city centre. Coombe Country Park and Allesley Park are also significant contributors to biodiversity in the city. These green spaces, along with thousands of street trees and urban planting schemes, reflect Coventry City Council’s active efforts to protect and enhance the natural landscape across the city. In recent years, urban greening has become central to local policy, with the council – the local planning authority – implementing new strategies for climate resilience, planting new trees, and canopy cover expansion.
Protection for trees in Coventry
As Coventry continues to grow, balancing the needs of development with the protection of the natural environment remains a top priority. Trees play a key role in this, acting as both ecological assets and regulatory obstacles to planning consent, depending on the context. The local council has a clear framework for managing trees through the enforcement of Tree Preservation Orders for individual trees, and the regulation of trees located in conservation areas such as Spon Street, Hill Top and Stoke Green.
These legal protections are in place to ensure that significant or vulnerable trees are not damaged or removed without proper scrutiny due to new development. Consequently, a professional tree survey is usually required to assess any potential risk from development sites before any planning application involving trees can be validated by a local planning authority.
British Standard BS5837 tree surveys
Tree surveys are especially critical where proposed development sites may interfere with existing trees, either directly or indirectly. The most common type of tree survey used for planning purposes is the BS5837 tree survey, named after the British Standard that defines how such tree surveys should be carried out.
In this process, a qualified tree consultant visits the site to make a visual tree assessment, examining the health, dimensions, species, condition and location of every tree within or in close proximity to the development area. Protected species of tree will be noted and decay detection techniques will be used to identify dangerous trees. Individual trees are categorised based on quality and remaining lifespan, and this data informs design decisions that aim to preserve as many trees as possible on new development sites.
Tree protection measures
Where development is compatible with existing tree stock, measures will be recommended to protect trees throughout construction. However, if tree removal is unavoidable due to safety concerns following decay detection or site constraints, the arboricultural consultant will recommend mitigation options such as replanting, repositioning, or altering the layout of development sites. Destruction of trees is always a last resort, typically applied only when trees are in poor condition or pose a risk to people or property. In all cases, decisions must be justified within the resulting arboricultural report.
Tree reports: the next steps
Once the British Standard tree survey is complete, the findings are compiled into a comprehensive tree report that can be submitted to the local council planning department. Tree reports typically include a Tree Constraints Plan and may be accompanied by additional documents such as an Arboricultural Impact Assessment, Arboricultural Method Statement, and a Tree Protection Plan, depending on the complexity of the project. These documents show how work on development sites will take place without causing harm to valuable trees, outlining protective measures that must be implemented before, during and after construction.
Further reasons for tree surveys
Beyond planning applications, tree surveys are also vital in other contexts. Schools, public buildings, housing estates and commercial properties in close proximity to people are often subject to tree inspections to meet health and safety responsibilities. In these cases, regular tree surveys can identify hazardous trees that may require pruning, bracing, or removal. Changing weather patterns, including more frequent storms and strong winds, increase the importance of tree surveys and proactive tree management for public safety and long-term environmental resilience.
Expert advice
Whether you are applying for planning permission for new development, managing public or private land, or need to ensure the safety of mature trees on your property, our specialist arboricultural consultancy can help. We provide expert tree surveys in Coventry and throughout the West Midlands, delivering clear and compliant reports for developers, homeowners, councils and architects. Our qualified surveyors understand the local planning landscape and the expectations of Coventry City Council when it comes to tree reports, ensuring your project remains on track while aligning with legal and environmental requirements.
Request a free quote for tree surveys
If you need assistance with any aspect of tree management, tree surveys and applications for planning consent, contact us today. Our arboricultural consultancy is ready to provide free, no obligation quotes and arrange a site visit at your convenience. Simply call the number at the top of this page or complete our online enquiry form.