Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997

160 Power to make tree preservation orders

(1) If it appears to a planning authority that it is expedient in the interests of amenity to make provision for the preservation of trees or woodlands in their district, they may for that purpose make an order with respect to such trees, groups of trees or woodlands as may be specified in the order.

(2) An order under subsection (1) is in this Act referred to as a “tree preservation order”.

(3) A tree preservation order may, in particular, make provision—

(a) for prohibiting (subject to any exemptions for which provision may be made by the order) the cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting, wilful damage or wilful destruction of trees except with the consent of the planning authority, and for enabling that authority to give their consent subject to conditions;

(b) for securing the replanting, in such manner as may be prescribed by or under the order, of any part of a woodland area which is felled in the course of forestry operations permitted by or under the order;

(c) for applying, in relation to any consent under the order, and to applications for such consent, any of the provisions of this Act mentioned in subsection (4), subject to such adaptations and modifications as may be specified in the order.

(4) The provisions referred to in subsection (3)(c) are—

(a) the provisions of Part III relating to planning permission and to applications for planning permission, except sections 32, 34, 35, 36(2) and (3), 38, 58 to 62, 69 and 70 and Schedules 6 and 7, and section 65 of the [1997 c. 9.] Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997,

(b) sections 88 to 92, 94 and 95 (except so far as they relate to purchase notices served in consequence of such orders as are mentioned in section 88(1)(b) or (c)), and

(c) section 263.

(5) A tree preservation order may be made so as to apply, in relation to trees to be planted pursuant to any such conditions as are mentioned in section 159(a), as from the time when those trees are planted.

(6) Without prejudice to any other exemptions for which provision may be made by a tree preservation order, nothing in such an order shall prohibit the uprooting, felling or lopping of trees if—

(a) it is urgently necessary in the interests of safety,

(b) it is necessary for the prevention or abatement of a nuisance, or

(c) it is in compliance with any obligation imposed by or under an Act of Parliament,

so long as, where paragraph (a) or (b) applies, notice in writing of the proposed operations is given to the planning authority as soon as practicable after the operations become necessary.

(7) This section shall have effect subject to—

(a) section 39(2) of the [1986 c. 63.] Housing and Planning Act 1986 (saving for effect of section 2(4) of the [1958 c. 69.] Opencast Coal Act 1958 on land affected by a tree preservation order despite its repeal), and

(b) section 15 of the [1967 c. 10.] Forestry Act 1967 (licences under that Act to fell trees comprised in a tree preservation order).