Duty to consult - highway tree removal

Lancashire County Council will publish relevant information in compliance with statutory consultations where the council proposes to fell a street tree/group of trees to comply with Environment Act 2021 changes that inserted section 115 (subsequently inserting section 96A into the Highways Act 1980) to ensure careful consideration is made prior to street tree removals that do not come under existing exemptions.

This webpage allows residents to:

• understand why a street tree is proposed for removal;

• view the location and details of the tree;

• submit comments during the consultation period; and

• view the council’s final decision and reasons.

The duty is intended to give people an opportunity to express their views and to make the decision-making process transparent. 

Should the decision be taken to remove a tree, Lancashire County Council will look to consider existing tree policies surrounding potential replacement of trees.

Scope of consultations

These consultations relate to urban roads, classified as highways other than trunk or A, B, C roads, which include:

• Restricted roads with a 30 mph speed limit;

• Subject to a speed-limit order not exceeding 40 mph; or

• Otherwise streets in an urban area.

Trees on adjacent council land, parks, housing estates or beside unadopted roads are outside the scope of this particular duty. 

Current consultations

Current consultations will be listed below.

Representations can be emailed to tree.management@lancashire.gov.uk

Please title emails with the single tree consultation this relates to. If you wish to comment on multiple consultations, please submit individual replies to each.