Edinburgh’s tree-rich landscape is one of its defining features
Natural beauty and historic architecture exist side by side in Edinburgh. With a population exceeding half a million and spanning an area of more than 26,000 hectares, Scotland’s capital city is known for its rich cultural heritage and scenic green spaces. Despite being a bustling urban centre, Edinburgh has established itself as one of the UK’s greenest cities, maintaining a delicate balance between development and the natural environment. For developers and landowners alike, tree surveys in Edinburgh play a vital role in ensuring this balance is preserved.
The city is home to iconic parks and natural areas such as Holyrood Park, the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, the Meadows, and Inverleith Park. These green spaces support extensive tree cover and biodiversity, while also enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors. Alongside these open spaces, tree-lined streets and wooded areas across the suburbs contribute to Edinburgh’s reputation as a well-planned, environmentally conscious city. Over recent decades, there has been increased emphasis on urban forestry, sustainable planning and tree protection policies.
Trees in Edinburgh not only improve air quality and provide habitat for wildlife but also play a crucial role in the city’s climate resilience strategies. However, as with many growing cities, there is a constant need to accommodate new housing, commercial buildings, and infrastructure projects. This often brings trees into the spotlight, either as features to be preserved or as potential obstacles to proposed development sites. Because of this, tree surveys in Edinburgh are often a prerequisite to obtaining planning permission for developments that might affect existing tree stock.
Protection for trees in Edinburgh
Edinburgh City Council enforces strong planning regulations surrounding tree protection. This includes numerous Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) across the city, as well as designated conservation areas such as the New Town, Marchmont, Dean Village and parts of Leith. In these zones, any tree work, whether felling, pruning or construction projects nearby must first be approved. Without a professional tree survey, planning applications are unlikely to be considered valid by the planning authority.
Tree surveys: how the process works
A British Standard BS5837 tree survey is the industry standard assessment required for most development projects where trees are present. This survey type involves a qualified arboricultural consultant visiting the proposed site and inspecting every tree within the boundary and nearby trees. The surveyor records information such as tree species, stem diameter, tree condition, crown spread, life expectancy and the spread of tree roots to assess root protection areas. From there, each tree is categorised according to its overall value and contribution to the site. This data is then used to guide the decisions tree owners must make about site layout, construction techniques and tree retention.
Tree surveys aim to preserve high-quality trees wherever possible. Retaining valuable trees enhances the appearance and environmental performance of new developments. That said, compromises may sometimes be required. If a tree is in poor health, poses a safety risk or presents an unavoidable constraint to construction, it may be recommended for removal, but only when supported by a sound justification within the tree report. In such cases, replanting strategies can be proposed to maintain long-term canopy cover and ecological value.
Detailed tree reports
The output of a BS5837 tree survey is a detailed arboricultural report. This includes a Tree Constraints Plan showing the spatial limitations posed by root protection areas or crown spread, an Arboricultural Impact Assessment (AIA) outlining how the proposed development could affect retained trees, and an Arboricultural Method Statement (AMS) specifying how work will be carried out safely and in line with British Standards. Professional tree reports also include a tree protection plan and details of potential risks posed by trees and management recommendations. All of this information ensures that planners at the City of Edinburgh Council can evaluate applications and make informed decisions with confidence that trees will be appropriately managed on development sites.
Further tree reports: identify potential hazards
Tree reports are not only required for planning applications. Tree safety surveys and risk assessments are commonly needed by tree owners including landowners, property managers, housing associations, and institutions such as schools and universities. Tree condition surveys help identify individual trees or large tree populations that may present potential hazards to the general public due to decay, disease or structural weakness, enabling appropriate action to be taken before damage or injury occurs. Tree owners may need to carry out tree work, depending on the report findings. Central Scotland experiences varied weather patterns, including strong coastal winds and prolonged wet periods, further highlighting the importance of regular tree inspections across both urban and suburban settings to assess any potential risks posed by trees.
Obtain a quote for your tree surveys in central Scotland
Our arboricultural consultancy provides tree surveys in Edinburgh for clients in all sectors. Whether you’re a developer preparing a planning application, a private homeowner making changes to your property, or an organisation responsible for tree safety, we have the expertise to assist tree owners. Our experienced tree consultancy produces clear, compliant tree reports that meet all local and national planning requirements: whether you need an arboricultural impact assessment, tree protection plan, root protection or management recommendations, we can help. Our comprehensive tree surveys also include tree condition surveys and quantified tree risk assessment.
We understand the policies enforced by Edinburgh City Council and are familiar with conservation areas, tree preservation orders and other planning constraints across the city, helping to streamline the planning process. If you need help with tree surveys, don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our friendly team is ready to provide expert advice, fast turnaround times and a fully tailored service. Use the contact form on this website or call the number at the top of the page to request your free quote today. Once we’ve assessed your needs, we’ll arrange a convenient date for your site visit and guide you through every stage of the tree survey process to help you make informed decisions.