Tree Preservation Orders (TPO)

Trees and Woodland – Trees can be protected through Tree Preservation Orders (TPO) under the Planning (Trees) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 and the Planning (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003. A TPO provides protection for trees considered to be of special value in terms of amenity, history or rarity. It makes it an offence to cut down, top, lop, uproot or wilfully damage or destroy a protected tree, or to permit these actions, without first seeking the Department's consent to do so.