How to check if a tree is protected

Please be aware that it is a criminal offence to carry out works to a tree within a conservation area (CA) or a tree protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) without permission.

Check if the tree is in a conservation area

If you are a homeowner, you may be able to confirm this by looking in the package of information you received when you bought your property. 

If the tree is in a conservation area you may need our permission to work on it. Find out which trees in conservation areas need a planning application.

Given the Council's resources and the fact that the information is readily available online (following the methods below) we cannot respond to requests to check if a tree is in a conservation area. It is the responsibility of the homeowner and agent to undertake this check.  

Method A: Look on our conservation pages

1. On Lewisham’s website search for ‘maps of conservation areas’, click on ‘Maps of conservation areas’ and look at “All conservation areas” for the Lewisham Borough Wide Conservation Map to identify if your property lies within a conservation area. 
2. Check the detailed conservation area map for each conservation area to see whether your property falls within it.

When conservation areas sit next to each other and your property lies close to the boundary, you should check both detailed conservation area maps.

Method B: You can also check by visiting our interactive map. 

1. On Lewisham’s website search for ‘Interactive map’ 
2. At the top of the map go to ‘Simple address search’ 
3. Type in the Postcode and press ‘OK’. Scroll and click on the address in the drop down. It will then take you to the address on the map.
4. On the left hand side of the map there is a list in blue. Go to Planning. There is a '+' on the right hand side of the word. Click this '+'.  
5. Tick conservation area and it will place a brown layer on the map and you can see if the property is within a conservation area.
6. Left click on the brown layer and the name of the conservation area will show

Method C: Visiting our policy map.

1. Click on 'search map' by full/partial address, insert address and click on ‘Find Address’
2. Your property will be outlined and shaded in red. Conservation Area boundaries are shown by a red outline. Zoom out to see if the property is within a conservation area.

Check if the tree is protected by a Tree Preservation Order:

The Council is currently working on publishing a simple list of all TPOs within the borough which will aid this search process.

However at present there are alternative methods set out below.

Use the planning application search

Please note, if the tree is on a development which was previously called another name, such as former hospital sites New Cross, Hither Green and Grove Park Hospitals, the former Page Heath Estate (Blackheath) or is in an extensive TPO covering multiple addresses, these TPOs are currently not uploaded to the website and a planning application search may not reveal all TPOs. For these sites please email planning@lewisham.gov.uk.  

Use the simple planning application search - by address

1. Go to the planning applications search
2. Put in the address and press ENTER
3. This will show whether there have been any previous application in regard to trees on the property.

Use the advanced planning application search – by application type

1. Go to the advanced planning applications search
2. Click ‘Advanced’. Go to ‘application details’ and put the road name in the box called ‘description keyword’. In ‘Application Type’ select ‘confirm tree preservation order’ from the drop-down list, scroll to the bottom of the page and press ‘search’.
3. Click to view associated documents
   
   

Use the advanced planning application search - for all Lewisham TPOs currently uploaded to the website

1. Go to the advanced planning applications search
2. In ‘Application Type’ select “Confirmed Tree Preservation Order” from the drop down, scroll to the bottom of the page and press ‘search’.
3. Click to view associated documents

If you have tried the above and still cannot find out whether the tree is covered by a TPO, email us at planning@lewisham.gov.uk . Put the words TPO check and the address in the email subject line. 

It can take up to ten working days for us to respond to TPO checks.

If