Council aims to protect its trees from felling

Trees on council land are not subject to tree preservation orders

A policy to protect council-owned trees from being felled is being introduced in Plymouth.

Councillor Maddi Bridgeman proposed the notice of motion to introduce a fair system of assessing trees suitable for a tree preservation order (TPO) to the full Plymouth City Council at a meeting on Monday.

The council accepted it with amendment put forward by Labour members.

It comes after the felling of more than 100 city centre trees in Armada Way on 14 March 2023 as part of a regeneration project.

The felling of the trees in Armada Way sparked national outrage

Currently, trees on council land are not subject to TPOs, but under the new policy, trees worthy of protection will be considered for a TPO irrespective of land ownership.

Councillors want TPOs served on trees which have "significant amenity value" and are at "imminent risk", and when PCC land is being sold or has a change of use, a tree assessment will be carried out first to see if trees included meet the TPO criteria.

Bridgeman said Plymouth had a "poor reputation" for protecting trees, and said it did not protect them because PCC "does not wish to prosecute itself for slaughtering, felling and culling its own trees".

Councillors backed the public being allowed to apply for TPOs on council-owned land and a list being published of council-owned trees worthy of protection within six months.

Councillor Sue Dann said a tree management plan would go before scrutiny panels, and added Plymouth was named a tree city of the world in May 2025 after 35,000 trees were planted in six months.

Following the meeting she said council-owned trees would get the same protection as any other.

"After the Armada Way learning review we promised to do better – and this is the proof we mean it," she added.

The learning review urged the council to improve transparency around tree management.