Tree rules in Havering: preservation orders and conservation areas

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It describes the London Borough of Havering pages on trees, on trees on private land, on tree preservation orders and conservation areas, and on ancient and veteran trees, as read on October 8, 2026. The national rules are on the guide to checking tree rules with UK councils. This page covers only what Havering's pages state.

Preservation orders and conservation areas

Havering's page says a tree preservation order (TPO) means the council's consent must be obtained for any work to a protected tree, and that all trees in conservation areas are similarly protected. It names limited exceptions, such as when a tree or part of a tree is dead, dying or dangerous. To find out whether a tree is covered by a TPO or lies in a conservation area, the page points to the council's online mapping system. Applications for work on a TPO tree or a tree in a conservation area go through the Planning Portal, and the page sends readers to GOV.UK for guidance on what information an application should include.

For dead, dying or dangerous protected trees the page says that, except in an emergency, at least five days notice should be given before cutting down a protected tree that is dead or dangerous, and the same applies to removing dead, dying or dangerous wood from an otherwise healthy tree. It warns that a person could be prosecuted if the council considers unauthorised work was done on a protected tree. It says consent is not needed if a tree is directly in the way of development that is about to start and for which detailed planning permission has been granted.

Private land

The page on trees on private land says the council is not responsible for trees on private land, but works with the owners where a tree causes a problem on public land, such as overgrowing the pavement or blocking a street sign or street light. For a TPO tree it says advice should be sought from the Tree Preservation Officer before any work starts. It says the council cannot become involved in private disputes and points to GOV.UK guidance.

Council trees

Topic	What the trees page says
Which trees	The council is responsible for the trees it owns, generally trees on roads and pavements and in parks. It does not look after trees on the A12 and A127, which go to Transport for London
Removal	Unless a tree is dead, dying, diseased or immediately dangerous, the council says it has a duty to consult on removal, including where the tree may be involved in ongoing damage. Non-urgent removals go to public consultation for 28 days, and if there are no objections the tree is removed no sooner than 28 days after the final notice. A tree removal list gives each removal and the reason
Inspection	Trees are inspected on three or five year cycles and pruned when needed
Planting	New highway trees are watered 20 times per year during the growing season for at least the first 2 years
Reasons it does not normally prune or remove	The page lists falling leaves, sap, fruit, seeds, blossom, pollen and bird droppings, moisture changes in gardens, blocked gutters, loss of television or satellite signal, loss of sunlight or a view, shading of solar arrays, minor surface disturbance and unsubstantiated claims of damage

The ancient and veteran tree page says the council has government and Mayor of London funding for a borough-wide survey, and publishes an interactive map of ancient and veteran trees on council land, golf courses, a graveyard, sports grounds, nature reserves, streets, housing sites and private homes and farms.

Tree rules in Havering: preservation orders and conservation areas

Preservation orders and conservation areas

Private land

Council trees

Sources