A Tree Preservation Order (TPO) is a legally enforceable order made by a local planning authority in England to protect specific trees, groups of trees or woodlands in the interests of amenity. An Order prohibits the cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting, wilful damage, wilful destruction of trees without the local planning authority’s written consent. If consent is given, it can be subject to conditions which have to be followed. The power to make a TPO is currently contained in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Town and Country (Tree Preservation) (England) Regulations 2012. The location of all TPOs in the borough are mapped and updated by the planning department.
