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Do you need a tree survey in Lewes District Council?
If your project could affect a tree — one on your land, on a neighbour's, or on the street — within roughly its own height of the works, Lewes District Council will usually expect a BS5837 tree survey before it will validate the application. It's near-certain where a tree is covered by a Tree Preservation Order or stands in a conservation area — check whether a tree is protected before you plan any works.
Requirements are set locally, so the exact trigger varies between authorities. Like every English planning authority, Lewes District Council works from a local validation checklist, and where trees are affected an application submitted without the arboricultural information is usually invalidated — held before it's even assessed — rather than refused. That's a delay you avoid by getting the survey done up front.
What the survey leads to
The survey grades each tree A–U and calculates its root protection area — the ground you must keep clear. It then feeds an Arboricultural Impact Assessment setting out what your design means for the trees. If Lewes District Council grants permission, you'll commonly need a Tree Protection Plan and an Arboricultural Method Statement approved to discharge a pre-commencement condition before any work starts on site. Budget for it early — see typical tree survey costs.
Getting it right in Lewes District Council
Use a suitably qualified arboriculturist who knows Lewes District Council's expectations, and check live planning activity near your address on the PlanWatch Lewes District Council page before you submit. For the full picture, start with our complete guide to tree surveys, or compare requirements in nearby areas such as Leeds, Manchester and Bristol.
Tree survey FAQs for Lewes District Council
Do I need a tree survey for a project in Lewes District Council?
If there's a tree on or near your site that the works could affect — especially a protected tree — Lewes District Council will generally expect a BS5837 survey to validate the application. If no trees are within influencing distance, you won't.
How do I check if a tree in Lewes District Council has a TPO?
Tree Preservation Orders are held by Lewes District Council, not on a national map. Use our TPO checker to reach the right register, and confirm a specific tree with the council's tree officer.
What happens if I submit without one?
Where trees are affected, the application is typically invalidated — the clock doesn't start and nothing is assessed until you supply the missing survey. Submitting it up front keeps your application moving.