Policy information sourced from the Woking Development Management Policies Development Plan Document (DPD)

DM2: Trees and landscaping

Trees, hedgerows and other vegetation of amenity and/or environmental significance or which form part of the intrinsic character of an area must be considered holistically as part of the landscaping treatment of new development. When considering development proposals, the Council will:

  1. support or consent to the removal of protected trees (TPO trees and trees within a Conservation Area) and/or proposals that would have detrimental impact on the health of protected trees only in exceptional circumstances and where there are over-riding planning benefits. In such cases full compensation will be required, in the form of suitable replacements and/or additional planting. Such compensatory measures will have to be to the satisfaction of the Council;
  2. make sure that where trees, hedgerows or other landscape feature are to be removed it is justified to the satisfaction of the Council and appropriate replacement planting will be required if it is safe and practical to do so and will enhance the quality of the development. Where the removal of trees is necessary in order to manage and maintain priority habitats, this should be demonstrated by the applicant;
  3. require landscape proposals for new development to retain existing trees and other important landscape features where practicable and include the planting of new trees and other planting to enhance the quality and character of the development and the general area;
  4. require any trees which are to be retained to be adequately protected to avoid damage during construction;
  5. require adequate space to be provided between any trees to be retained and the proposed development (including impervious surfaces);
  6. support the incorporation of green walls and roofs in proposals, particularly within the urban environment, where appropriate in design and functional terms and which would not detract from the character of the area;
  7. require the design, size, species and placement of trees and other landscape features to take practicable opportunities to realise their multifunctional green infrastructure benefits as set out in Natural Woking: Biodiversity and Green Infrastructure Strategy, including:
    • connecting the development site to the surrounding green infrastructure network and wildlife habitats; and
    • assisting in providing shade and shelter to address urban cooling; and
    • assisting in reducing or mitigating run-off and flood risk on the development site; and
    • creating a strong framework of street trees to enclose or mitigate the visual impact of a development.

The Council will consider making Tree Preservation Orders and/or attach suitable Conditions or seek Legal Agreements to secure the proper future maintenance and management of existing trees and new planting where necessary.

For more information please see the Development Plan Document