BS5837: 2012 Trees in relation to design, demolition - Arboricultural ...

BS5837: 2012 Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction
AA Road show presentation notes: Richard Nicholson May-July 2012
Edited by Mike Sankus
10) Special engineering within RPA and other relevant construction details referred
to in paragraph 6.1.2 (d & e). Commentary on clause 6 refers to draft form or heads
of terms sufficient to provide a high level of confidence, but also see paragraph
7.1.3, which makes clear that technical feasibility should be tested at planning
application stage by submitting details with the planning application (prior to
validation). See also paragraphs 7.2.1 and 7.5.5, which give more useful guidance
on works inside the RPA and paragraph 5.3.1, which sets the default position and
parameters of rational to undertake operations within the RPA. .
Sub section 6.1 - Arboricultural Method Statement
What is an Arboricultural Method Statement and when are they relevant? See paragraphs
6.1.1 through to 6.1.3 for details of what may be included. They apply whenever any aspect
of development lies inside the RPA (see paragraph 3.2). It's about implementation.
Paragraph 6.1.2 - The Arboricultural Method Statement should be appropriate to the
proposals.
Paragraph 6.1.2e) – This is an important statement for certainty of outcome.
Paragraph 6.1.3 – Method statement should include a list of contacts for the development
to ease communication.
Sub section 6.2 - Barriers and ground protection
OED Definitions:
Barrier: ‘anything serving to obstruct passage or to maintain separation, such as a
fence’
Fence: ‘structure that encloses an area’ which could be a chain on posts.
Paragraphs 6.2.2.2 and 6.2.2.3 – These set a default specification and the alternatives
where circumstances allow for an alternative specification for the barrier.
Paragraph 6.2.3.3 - Ground protection solutions are provided in this paragraph, which
contains more information. There are three suggested scenarios in BS5837: 2012, which is
an improvement over BS5837: 2005 which only referred to ‘engineered’ and ‘fit for
purpose’.
Section 7 - Demolition and construction in proximity to existing trees.
Paragraph 7.1.1 - Makes clear that the tree and soil structure inside the RPA takes priority
when considering construction inside the RPA (see paragraph 3.7 - definition of RPA, which
talks about maintaining tree’s viability and where the protection of roots and soil structure is
a priority). See also paragraph 5.3.1, which states that the default position is that structures
are located outside the RPA of trees to be retained. In BS5837: 2005 there was the
flexibility to allow a 20% setback of the RPA, but this no longer applies. The assumption
now is that it is not a given: building in the RPA was considered acceptable and almost the