Policy BG/TC: Improving tree canopy cover and the tree population

This policy controls how development impacts tree canopy cover, the tree population, and protected trees and hedgerows. 

1.

For housing, development where 10 or more homes will be provided, or the site has an area of 0.5 hectares or more. For non-residential development it means additional f loorspace of 1,000m2 or more, or a site of 1 hectare or more, or as otherwise provided in the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015.

proposals must demonstrate, via a Tree Canopy Cover Assessment, how it will achieve a minimum future canopy cover of 30% on site. 

2. If a scheme can demonstrate significant ecological, historical, landscape or operational reasons to justify a canopy cover of less than 30% on site, an alternative percentage of canopy provision shall be agreed with the Local Planning Authority. 

3. All applications for development where there are trees on, or immediately adjacent to, a development site must be accompanied by an Arboricultural Impact Assessment and a tree protection plan and/or a Hedgerow Survey that demonstrates how the proposal: 

  a. preserves, protects and enhances existing trees and hedgerows on site. Retained trees and/or hedgerows should be integrated into the development design to ensure their long-term preservation, and 

  b. ensures that there is sufficient space above and below ground, for existing, replacement and newly planted trees, hedgerows and other vegetation to mature and to be maintained in the long term. 

4. Where new trees are provided, planting must: 

  a) be of species which are appropriate for the conditions of the site including consideration for climate change, and 

  b) support species diversity and incorporation of long lived trees within the treescape design 

5.

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

which includes planting of trees must contribute to long term maintenance via planning conditions and/or obligations as appropriate. 

6.

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

will not be permitted which involves felling, significant surgery (either now or in the foreseeable future), and potential root damage to trees of amenity value, unless otherwise approved by the Local Planning Authority on a case-by-case basis weighing up the impacts of removal against the benefits of development. When felling is approved, appropriate replacement planting will be required to be agreed with the Local Planning Authority. 

7.

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

proposals should maintain a buffer zone of at least 15 metres from the boundary of any ancient woodland, ancient and veteran trees, ancient hedgerows and any development boundary, to avoid root damage (known as the root protection area). The size and type of buffer zone will vary depending on the scale, type and impact of the development. All proposals should ensure that appropriately wide buffer strips are possible next to tree groups.

National policy and guidance recognises the many benefits provided by trees. Existing trees, woodlands and hedgerows contribute to the identified landscape character and townscapes of

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

; their retention and proper management is essential in maintaining biodiversity, landscape, amenity, cultural and heritage value. Locally, low tree and tree canopy cover is recognised as a weakness within the ecological network, both in the rural agricultural areas typified by large open fields lacking boundary features and in more urban areas which pre-date requirements for ecological enhancement (BNG). 

To address these challenges, the councils have identified a priority of increasing tree canopy cover in

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

. The policy intent to increase Urban Tree Canopy Cover reflects best practice tree planting and management green infrastructure guidance (see

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

Green Infrastructure is a multi-functional network of public green spaces and routes, landscapes, biodiversity and heritage. It includes a wide range of elements such as country parks, wildlife habitats, rights of way, commons and greens, nature reserves, waterways and bodies of water, and historic landscapes and monuments.

Strategy – Volume 1 – Emerging Strategy and Standards Appendix E- 2025). 

The potential effect of development on trees, whether statutorily protected (for example by a tree preservation order) or not, is a material consideration in planning decisions. To exercise this statutory duty, Local Planning Authorities need to understand the existing tree resource so that they can make an informed judgement about what might be needed/appropriate, in terms of tree impact, from developments. Where there are trees within the application site, or on land adjacent to it that could influence or be affected by the development, information will be required on which trees are to be lost/retained, including whether any are ancient or veteran. It is best practice to undertake a tree survey in accordance with BS 5837 ‘Trees in relation to construction – Recommendations’ to determine the significance and amenity value of trees on and near the site. 

Tree canopy cover and assessment 

Only canopy that is delivered (retained or established) within the application site boundary will be considered canopy provision for the purposes of this policy. The Councils’ emerging preferred approach is to apply a tree canopy cover target for a site, in order to support the delivery of the area-wide ambition of 20% tree canopy cover. Ahead of the Proposed Submission stage, the Councils may also explore the implications of applying an alternative policy approach of requiring a canopy cover percentage increase. 

A tree canopy cover assessment, in accordance with a Council approved calculator or metric will be required to enable assessment by the councils of tree canopy cover for major development proposals. The tree canopy cover assessment calculator is being currently developed by officers and will be published with the submission

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

. Illustrative best practice examples which are informing the development of the calculator are referenced within the

The variety of life in all its forms. This includes the plant and animal species that make up our wildlife and the habitats in which they live.

and Green Spaces Topic Paper. 

Significant ecological, historical, landscape or operational reasons which would justify a canopy cover of less than 20% would be circumstances where this level of canopy cover provision would cause a significant, adverse impact upon: 

• the character, context, views of or from a heritage asset, its setting and its relationship with the wider landscape 
• a designated landscape or upon the physical condition of a retained historic feature 
• a site(s) where aviation or the generation of renewable energy are the primary function (for instance in circumstances where new any canopy may obstruct visibility/flight paths at aviation sites or may prevent optimal outputs for solar farms) 
• the balance of BNG (disproportionate canopy) or the provision of BNG. 
• biodiversity (sites of biodiversity importance, habitats and species of principal importance) or sites of geodiversity 
• the connectivity or enhancement of the local nature recovery network 

Felling and significant surgery to trees 

The councils recognise that in some specific instances felling of existing trees or hedgerows may be necessary to meet wider placemaking objectives. In order to determine whether felling or significant surgery to trees or hedgerows is acceptable, the amenity value of the tree(s) and/or hedgerows, condition and potential lifespan will be weighed against the safety from removal, the protection of other important site features or any more general benefits of a new development. 

The councils will protect trees of current and future amenity value through the imposition of TPOs (including the serving of category C TPOs) and/or, through planning conditions to ensure protection and prevent damage during the development process. A tree preservation order (TPO) can be placed on any tree, including hedgerow trees but not hedgerows themselves. Trees, groups of trees and woodland will be assessed by the Councils in accordance with the amenity assessment (Policy P2) Cambridge City Councils tree strategy (2016-2026) or successor document. When felling is approved, appropriate replacement planting will be required to be agreed with the Local Planning Authority, including the species and location of such planting. 

Design 

Site layouts should be planned so that new and existing trees are not only a significant feature of open spaces but they are also incorporated into streets, gardens, parking courts and other publicly accessible areas. The constraints imposed by trees, both above and below ground should be considered at the outset as they will inform site layout. Trees must be given adequate space to allow for future growth of both roots and crown. 

Proposals should support greater treescape design diversity (such as informal orchards, micro-woods, informal tree planting, woodland pasture and Hedgerow trees) and consider how large, long-lived trees can be incorporated into the design. Large, long-lived trees are species that, at maturity, generally exceed 15–20 metres in height and have a broad canopy spread, and possess a natural life expectancy of at least 100 years, often considerably longer. These trees contribute disproportionately to urban forest benefits due to their extensive biomass, ecological value, and sustained canopy cover over time. 

Tree species and diversity 

Opportunities to plant large species trees should be maximised with the use of adequate building set-backs, efficient and combined utilities routes and root cell systems for rooting volume. Proposals should be informed by urban greening best practice guidance at the time of the application to enable appropriate tree species selection for aiding the diversification of the urban forest (see

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

Green Infrastructure is a multi-functional network of public green spaces and routes, landscapes, biodiversity and heritage. It includes a wide range of elements such as country parks, wildlife habitats, rights of way, commons and greens, nature reserves, waterways and bodies of water, and historic landscapes and monuments.

Strategy Appendix E-). 
 
Hedgerows 

Where developments are likely to affect a hedgerow, it should be surveyed and assessed against the criteria in the Hedgerow Regulations 1997 to determine if it qualifies as ‘important’ under the Regulations (the survey is required to cover the condition, height, spread and species content of the hedgerow.) Even when the hedgerow is deemed not to meet the criteria for classification as important, consideration should be given to its importance for biodiversity and wildlife, for example as nesting sites, migration corridors or foraging routes for bats and birds (see also Policy WS/HS: Pollution, health and safety). 

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

proposals will be required to retain and protect both hedgerows themselves and the surrounding space which supports their flourishing.

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

proposals should seek to incorporate established hedgerows into their landscaping schemes at an early stage of design. 

Tree management 

The management of trees requires great care and forethought; tree constraints, tree protection and tree management plans should be provided where trees are to be retained on-site.

Buffer zone 

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

should buffer any ancient woodland, ancient and veteran trees and ancient hedgerows it affects by providing sufficient space to afford surrounding protection and allow for future growth and expansion (where possible).

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

near ancient woodland should have a minimum buffer zone of at least 15 metres from the boundary of the woodland to avoid root damage (known as the root protection area) but where assessment shows other impacts are likely to extend beyond this distance, the proposal is likely to need a larger buffer zone (for example, the effect of air pollution from development that results in a significant increase in traffic). 

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

near ancient woodland should be in accordance with the most up to date joint Natural England and Forestry Commission Standing Advice. Precise buffers will be determined by Local Planning Authority tree officers through assessment and design proposals submitted as part of the development application. Where possible, a buffer zone(s) should contribute to the wider ecological network and be part of the green infrastructure of the area by being planted with local species. 

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

: Topic Paper 3:

The variety of life in all its forms. This includes the plant and animal species that make up our wildlife and the habitats in which they live.

and Green Spaces

We will consider all comments while developing the next version of the

A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

.

All comments must be received by 30 January 2026 at 5pm.