Felling licences
A licence is needed from the Forestry Authority to fell growing trees (though not for lopping and topping), but in any calendar quarter up to 5 cubic metres may be felled by an occupier, provided that not more than 2 cubic metres are sold.
A licence is not needed if any of the following conditions apply:
- The felling is in accordance with an approved plan under a Forestry Commission grant scheme.
- The trees are growing in a garden, orchard, churchyard or public open space.
- The trees are all below 8cm in diameter measured 1.3m above the ground; or in the case of thinnings, below 10cm in diameter; or in the case of coppice or underwood, below 15cm in diameter.
- The trees are interfering with permitted development, or statutory works by public service providers.
- The trees are dead, dangerous, causing a nuisance or are badly affected by Dutch elm disease.
- The felling is in compliance with an Act of Parliament.
There is a public register of applications for felling licences. All applications have to rest there for 4 weeks and any person or body can comment on them. The public register is available on the Forestry Commission website at www.forestry.gov.uk
Application
The application for a felling licence should be made by the landowner, tenant, or by an agent acting on their behalf. Applications should be submitted at least 3 months before the proposed date of felling. No felling should be carried out until a licence has been issued. A licence may only be issued on condition that replanting is carried out. Planting grants will normally be available where a replanting condition has been imposed.
For further information see the leaflet Tree felling: getting permission (Forestry Commission).
Other permissions
In certain circumstances, whether or not a felling licence is needed, permission may be needed for any proposed felling. This may include trees in SSSIs, Conservation Areas or where a Tree Preservation Order applies.
