Policy information sourced from the Central Befordshire Local Plan

EE4: Trees, Woodlands and Hedgerows

Development Proposals will be permitted where:

  1. They do not adversely affect ancient woodland and aged and veteran trees;
  2. Woodlands, including semi-natural woodlands, planted ancient woodland sites, traditional orchards, hedgerows, and specimen trees found outside woodlands are protected and buffered;
  3. Existing hedgerows and trees are incorporated to enhance developments, are integrated within the public realm, and are within a suitable landscape setting to ensure longevity. Hedgerows and treed boundaries should be reinforced, safeguarded within green corridors and extended where there is scope to create linkages; and
  4. Any removal of trees or hedgerows to accommodate development is justified, and lost assets are replaced within the development site with appropriate planting of suitable species of equivalent scale and character and providing equivalent canopy cover and habitat connectivity.

    Developers will be expected to include new planting in developments. Proposals will be permitted where:
  5. New developments are designed to include significant tree features as part of residential areas, commercial and employment sites, streets and car parks;
  6. The layout of developments (including residential areas, roads, parking areas, and open spaces) is designed to provide sufficient space to enable these trees to thrive, including adequate root protection areas and canopy clearance zones;
  7. Landscaping schemes will take account of local landscape character and should consider climate change, ease of maintenance and ecological enhancement. They should include the use of non-native species where appropriate. Care must be taken to avoid the introduction of invasive species into planting schemes;
  8. New tree planting is designed within a green corridor of appropriate scale, as part of the site’s public realm, transport network and green infrastructure, to improve ecological connectivity, enhance local character and create a sense of place, and mitigate and adapt to climate change; and
  9. Any development that forms a rural edge will include an effective landscape edge consisting of native tree and hedgerow planting consistent with the local landscape character.

For more information, please visit the Central Befordshire Local Plan