Tree Preservation Order Requests - Report
Renfrewshire Council · 26 August 2025
Back to Planning and Climate Change Policy Board — 26 August 2025 and its agenda
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___________________________________________________________________ To: Planning and Climate Change Policy Board On: 26 August 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Tree Preservation Order Requests ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Summary 1.1 This report seeks to respond to a request to apply a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) designation to a tree at Braids Road, Paisley and trees at a site at Inchinnan Industrial Estate. 1.2 The requests submitted are considered in line with the relevant legislation, namely Section 160 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 as amended by the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006, and with the procedures set out in the Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation Order and Trees in Conservation Areas)(Scotland) Regulations 2011. 1.3 The report recommends that a tree preservation order is made in relation to the tree at Braids Road, Paisley. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 Approve a tree preservation order in respect of a tree at Braids Road, Paisley and agree that officers proceed to prepare the relevant order, serve it on relevant parties and make the order available to the public and seek representations. 2.2 Note that an assessment was undertaken of trees at a site at Inchinnan Business Park and that the trees in question were found not to meet the criteria for a tree preservation order. _________________________________________________________
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3. Background 3.1 A request for a tree preservation order has been received in relation to two sites, namely: A tree at Braids Road, Paisley; and Trees at a site at Inchinnan Business Park. 3.2 A TEMPO assessment has been undertaken in respect of both sites by an independent arboriculturist. Braids Road, Paisley 3.3 The independent assessment notes that the tree in question is a fully mature 100+ years weeping beech tree growing on the fence line marking the boundary of Brodie Park Playground and Braids Road. 3.4 The tree is found to overhang Braids Road, the pavement and playground and has been kept trimmed to maintain overhead clearance for vehicles over the carriageway and pedestrians on all sides. 3.5 The tree is considered to be a fine mature example of a rare species and achieved a TEMPO scoring of 19 thus indicating that the tree definitely merits a tree preservation order. 3.6 A copy of the assessment undertaken is detailed as Background Paper 1 as attached to this report. 3.7 In light of the above, it is recommended that a TPO designation is progressed in relation to the tree in question. Inchinnan Business Park 3.8 The independent assessment notes that the site comprises an open landscaped area of approximately 3.12ha on the eastern side of Inchinnan Business Park, of which approximately 1.25ha was planted as woodland with mostly native tree and shrub species in the early 1990’s. 3.9 It is noted that the site may have ecological, biodiversity and landscape value, however the tree cover comprises a relatively recent landscaping scheme, planted to screen the industrial estate. 3.10 The site achieved a TEMPO score of 6 indicating that making a tree preservation order would be indefensible. 3.11 A copy of the assessment undertaken is detailed as Background Paper 2 as attached to this report. 3.12 In light of the above, it is recommended that a TPO designation is not progressed in relation to the site in question.
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Next Steps 3.13 A TPO is prepared in respect of the tree at Braids Road, Paisley. Thereafter the order will be served on the respective landowners and made available to the public for comment. 3.14 Following a period of public consultation, the TPO will be returned to Board to take account of any comments received and to confirm, or otherwise the order. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – None. 2. HR & Organisational Development – None. 3. Community/Council Planning – Reshaping our place, our economy and our future – the TPO designation will offer protection to a tree and protect it in the long term for the benefit of the local area. Creating a sustainable Renfrewshire for all to enjoy – the TPO designation will offer protection to a tree which contributes to the amenity of the local area. 4. Legal - The recommendations in the report would require tree preservation order to made in relation to the tree in question. Should the order be confirmed it would require to be lodged with the Land Register of Scotland. 5. Property/Assets – the tree at Braids Road is under the control of Renfrewshire Council. In the event that maintenance work is required to be undertaken in respect of the tree, permission to undertake works to a tree would be required via the submission of a treeworks application. 6. Information Technology – None. 7. Equality & Human Rights - The Recommendations contained within this report have been assessed in relation to their impact on equalities and human rights. No negative impacts on equality groups or potential for infringement of individuals’ human rights have been identified arising from the recommendations contained in the report. If required following implementation, the actual impact of the recommendations and the mitigating actions will be reviewed and monitored, and the results of the assessment will be published on the Council’s website. 8. Health & Safety – None. 9. Procurement – None.
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10. Risk – None. 11. Privacy Impact – None. 12. Climate Risk – None. 13. Children’s Rights – None. 14. Cosla Policy Position – None. _______________________________________________________ List of Background Papers (a) Background Paper 1 – TEMPO Assessment of a weeping beech at Brodie Park Playground, Braids Road, Paisley (b) Background Paper 2 – TEMPO Assessment of woodland at site at Inchinnan Industria Estate, Inchinnan ___________________________________________________________________ Author: David Love, Chief Planning Officer Tel: 07483410182; Email: david.love@renfrewshire.gov.uk
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Crownhead, Stobo, Scottish Borders, EH45 8NX t: 01721 760268 e: mail@treeconsultancygroup.com www.treeconsultancygroup.com Principal Consultant: Kenneth Harvey MICFor. M.Arbor.A. Dip.For. Chartered Arboriculturist Tree Consultancy Group Arboriculture - Urban Forestry - Planning 'TEMPO' ASSESSMENT OF A WEEPING BEECH AT BRODIE PARK PLAYGROUND BRAIDS ROAD PAISLEY Client: Renfrewshire Council Date: 9th June 2025
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1 INSTRUCTIONS 1.1 We have been instructed by Mr David Love, Head of Planning at Renfrewshire Council, to assess the suitability of a Weeping beech Fagus pendula at Brodie Park Playground for inclusion within a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). The assessment was to be carried out using the TEMPO evaluation method developed by Julian Forbes-Laird MICFor for CBA Trees Ltd. 2 BACKGROUND 2.1 A TPO suitability assessment starts with a walkover assessment carried out from places to which the public have access, as the purpose of protecting trees by a TPO is primarily to preserve their visual amenity in the landscape. This process involves identifying the most significant trees, groups or woodlands and then considering the expediency of making them the subjects of a TPO. 2.2 In order to be able to decide which trees are suitable for inclusion in a TPO and which aren't, the use of some kind of system is recommended to ensure, as far as possible, that selection is carried out in a fair, consistent, objective, and repeatable manner. It helps the Council explain to landowners why their trees have been included in a TPO, and also helps to avoid including large numbers of low value trees within the TPO system which the Council then has to manage. 2.3 The most widely used appraisal system developed for this purpose is the Tree Evaluation Method for Tree Preservation Orders - TEMPO. It is an easy to use field guide to decision-making which also provides a written record of the process. It is presented as a single-page pro forma, and allocates scores to various relevant criteria. When these scores are added together, it gives a total figure which informs whether the tree merits protection by a TPO and, if so, whether the making of a TPO is justifiable (i.e. defensible). As with any such system, its efficacious use is predicated on the assessor having a thorough understanding and knowledge of the subject matter. 3 SITE VISIT AND METHODOLOGY 3.1 We visited the site to carry out an assessment of the tree on 21st May 2025. The tree was assessed to establish its general condition, character, longevity and visibility in the wider area. 4 ASSESSMENT FINDINGS 4.1 The tree is a fully mature 100+ years old Weeping beech growing on the fenceline marking the boundary of Brodie Park Playground and Braids Road, approximately 80m west of the junction with Carriagehill Drive. It appears to have been 'top grafted' where the weeping branches of the pendula cultivar were grafted onto a single trunk of a standard beech rootstock at around 1.8 metres (6 feet). It has a low, wide-spreading, multi-stemmed crown of typical weeping form with a height of around 12 metres and an average crown radius of 10 metres giving a crown spread of around 20 metres. 4.2 As it overhangs Braids Road, the pavement and the playground, it has been kept trimmed to maintain overhead clearance for vehicles over the carriageway and pedestrians on all sides. The trunk has overgrown the old park railings to some extent. There is a small patch of dead bark with incipient decay at ground level on the north (pavement) side but only minor incipient decay is visible. There are no external signs of the presence of decay fungi and overall the structure appears to be sound with only a few small decay pockets in old pruning wounds. The crown foliage shows normal vitality for an urban beech of this age. 1
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4.3 Overall the tree appears to be a fine mature example of a rare species. It may be the even rarer Aurea cultivar with leaves that open bright yellow in Spring, but the foliage was normal green at the time of our visit so we cannot be sure. 4.4 A plan of the site along with the relevant TEMPO score sheet is attached. We are informed that there is no known threat to the tree at present, and that the making of a Tree Preservation Order would be precautionary only. Hence we have allocated the score of 1 point under Part 2 : Amenity assessment. If an actual threat is foreseeable, that score should be raised accordingly. 5 CONCLUSIONS 5.1 The TEMPO evaluation for the tree produced a total score of 19 points, indicating that it definitely merits a Tree Preservation Order. Kenneth Harvey MICFor. Dip.For. Chartered Arboriculturist 9th June 2025 2
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TREE EVALUATION METHOD FOR PRESERVATION ORDERS ‐ TEMPO SURVEY DATA SHEET & DECISION GUIDE REFER TO GUIDANCE NOTE FOR ALL DEFINITIONS Part 1: Amenity assessment a) Condition & suitability for TPO 5) Good Highly suitable 3) Fair/satisfactory Suitable 1) Poor Unlikely to be suitable 0) Dead/dying/dangerous* Unsuitable * Relates to existing context and is intended to apply to severe irremediable defects only b) Retention span (in years) & suitability for TPO 5) 100+ Highly suitable 4) 40‐100 Very suitable 2) 20‐40 Suitable 1) 10‐20 Just suitable 0) <10* Unsuitable *Includes trees which are an existing or near future nuisance, including those clearly outgrowing their context, or which are significantly negating the potential of other trees of better quality c) Relative public visibility & suitability for TPO Consider realistic potential for future visibility with changed land use 5) Very large trees with some visibility, or prominent large trees Highly suitable 4) Large trees, or medium trees clearly visible to the public Suitable 3) Medium trees, or large trees with limited view only Suitable 2) Young, small, or medium/large trees visible only with difficulty Barely suitable 1) Trees not visible to the public, regardless of size Probably unsuitable d) Other factors Trees must have accrued 7 or more points (with no zero score) to qualify 5) Principal components of formal arboricultural features, or veteran trees 4) Tree groups, or principal members of groups important for their cohesion 3) Trees with identifiable historic, commemorative or habitat importance 2) Trees of particularly good form, especially if rare or unusual 1) Trees with none of the above additional redeeming features (inc. those of indifferent form) ‐1) Trees with poor form or which are generally unsuitable for their location Part 2: Expediency assessment Trees must have accrued 10 or more points to qualify 5) Immediate threat to tree inc. s.211 Notice 3) Foreseeable threat to tree 2) Perceived threat to tree 1) Precautionary only Part 3: Decision guide Any 0 Do not apply TPO 1‐6 TPO indefensible 7‐11 Does not merit TPO 12‐15 TPO defensible 16+ Definitely merits TPO Tree details TPO Ref (if applicable): Tree/Group No: Species: Owner (if known): Location: Score & Notes Score & Notes Score & Notes Score & Notes Add Scores for Total: Date: Surveyor: Score & Notes Decision: May 2025 K Harvey MICFor N/A Renfrewshire Council 5 A rare and unusual mature tree in good overall condition for its age and location. T1 Weeping beech Fagus pendula Brodie Park Playground, Braids Road, Paisley 4 Fully mature, but should have at least another 40 years of useful safe life expectancy. Unlikely to last another 100 years, but could do so. 4 Large tree clearly visible to the public. 5 A principal component of a large, formal arboricultural feature (i.e. Brodie Park). May be the rare Golden cultivar ‘Aurea pendula’. 1 Precautionary only - no known current threat to tree. 19 Definitely merits a TPO
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Crownhead, Stobo, Scottish Borders, EH45 8NX t: 01721 760268 e: mail@treeconsultancygroup.com www.treeconsultancygroup.com Principal Consultant: Kenneth Harvey MICFor..M.Arbor.A. Dip.For. Chartered Arboriculturist Tree Consultancy Group Arboriculture - Urban Forestry - Planning 'TEMPO' ASSESSMENT OF WOODLAND SITE AT INCHINNAN INDUSTRIAL ESTATE INCHINNAN RENFREWSHIRE PA4 9AF Client: Renfrewshire Council Date: June 2025
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1 INSTRUCTIONS 1.1 We have been instructed by Mr David Love, Head of Planning at Renfrewshire Council, to assess the suitability of a site at Inchinnan Business Park, for inclusion within a Tree Preservation Order (TPO). The assessment was to be carried out using the TEMPO evaluation method developed by Julian Forbes-Laird MICFor. for CBA Trees Ltd. 2 BACKGROUND 2.1 A TPO suitability assessment starts with an appraisal carried out from places to which the public have access, as the purpose of protecting trees by a TPO is primarily to preserve their visual amenity in the landscape. This process involves identifying the most significant trees, groups or woodlands and then considering the expediency of making them the subjects of a TPO. 2.2 In order to be able to decide which trees are suitable for inclusion in a TPO and which aren't, the use of some kind of system is recommended to ensure, as far as possible, that selection is carried out in a fair, consistent, objective, and repeatable manner. It helps the Council explain to landowners why their trees have been included in a TPO, and also helps to avoid including large numbers of low value trees within the TPO system which the Council then has to manage. 2.3 The most widely used appraisal system developed for this purpose is the Tree Evaluation Method for Preservation Orders - TEMPO. It is an easy to use field guide to decision-making which also provides a written record of the process. It is presented as a single-page pro forma, and allocates scores to various relevant criteria. When these scores are added together, it gives a total figure which informs whether the tree merits protection by a TPO and, if so, whether the making of a TPO is justifiable (i.e. defensible). As with any such system, its efficacious use is predicated on the assessor having a thorough understanding and knowledge of the subject matter. 2.4 As Woodland TPOs are essentially different in nature and intent to 'normal' TPOs, TEMPO has been produced in two forms - one for individual trees and groups of trees, and one for woodlands. In the assessment of the trees at Inchinnan Business Park we have used the woodland version. 3 METHODOLOGY 3.1 The trees were assessed to establish their general condition, character, longevity and visibility in the wider area. 3.2 The tree cover was considered in the terms of a) individual trees, b) groups of trees and c) woodlands as deemed appropriate. Given the uniform age, recent history and general character of the site, it was considered appropriate that a Woodland TEMPO evaluation was carried out. 4 ASSESSMENT FINDINGS 4.1 The site comprises an open landscaped area of approximately 3.12 ha on the eastern side of Inchinnan Business Park, of which approximately 1.25 ha was planted as a woodland with mostly native tree and shrub species in the early 1990s. 4.2 The site is clearly visible to the public and will be of increasing significance in the wider landscape as the trees mature. 1
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4.3 Although the site may have ecological, biodiversity and landscape value, the tree cover essentially comprises a relatively recent landscaping scheme, planted to screen the industrial estate. 4.4 A plan of the site along with the relevant TEMPO score sheet is attached. 5 CONCLUSIONS 5.1 The TEMPO evaluation for the site produced a total score of only 6 points, indicating that making a Tree Preservation Order would be indefensible. Kenneth Harvey MICFor. Dip.For. Chartered Arboriculturist 10th June 2025 2
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WOODLAND EVALUATION METHOD FOR PRESERVATION ORDERS (WOODLAND TEMPO) SURVEY DATA SHEET & DECISION GUIDE Date: Surveyor: Woodland details TPO Ref (if applicable): Location:/OSGR: Owner (if known): Composition: REFER TO GUIDANCE NOTE FOR ALL DEFINITIONS Part 1: Amenity assessment a) Condition & suitability for TPO 10) Unmanaged – good/fair condition Highly suitable 8) Unmanaged – poor condition Very suitable 5) Excessively managed Suitable 2) Under good management Barely suitable 1) Derelict Unlikely to be suitable 0) Dead/dying/dangerous* Unsuitable Score & Notes * Relates to existing context and is intended to apply to majority of main stand trees having severe irremediable defects b) Naturalness & suitability for TPO Score & Notes 10) Ancient / ASN Highly suitable 8) Recent semi-natural Very suitable 5) Replanted ancient Suitable* 2) Recent native plantation Barely suitable 1) Pioneer dominant Unlikely to be suitable 0) Recent exotic plantation Unsuitable * If few old growth trees present & little or no regen consider TEMPO tree/group assessment c) Size (ha) & suitability for TPO Score & Notes 10) 100 + Extremely suitable 8) 10 - <100 Highly suitable 5) 5 - <10 Very Suitable 2) 0.25 to <5 Suitable 1) 0.1 – <0.25 Barely suitable 0) < 0.1 Unsuitable (consider TEMPO tree/group assessment) d) Cultural factors Woodland must have accrued 13 or more points (with no zero score) to qualify Score & Notes 10) Historical record / vital landscape feature / ≥10% veteran tree population present 8) SSSI or other national designation; significant landscape / habitat importance 5) Woodland with local designation / high public use / identifiable habitat value 2) Woodland with internal public access (use light or unknown) / some habitat value 1) Woodland adjacent to highway or with external public access / low habitat value 0) Woodland with none of the above additional features inc. minimal habitat value Part 2: Expediency assessment Woodland must have accrued 15 or more points to qualify 5) Immediate threat to overall woodland 4) Immediate risk of significant loss / severe fragmentation 3) Foreseeable risk of significant loss / severe fragmentation 2) Foreseeable risk of partial loss / fragmentation 1) Precautionary only Score & Notes Part 3: Decision guide Add Scores for Total: Decision: Any 0 Do not apply TPO 1-12 TPO indefensible 13-15 Does not merit TPO 16-20 TPO defensible 21 + Definitely merits TPO 2 points- Under management 2 points - Recent native plantation 2 points - 3.25 ha in total of which 1.25 ha is woodland N/a - insufficient points. N/a - insufficient points. 6 points TPO indefensible June 2025 K Harvey Dip.For. N/a Greenock Road, Inchinnan 247684, 668539 Scottish Enterprise Mixed native
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