‘Much of the emphasis when we assess trees in connection with development focuses on the impact of the proposals on the trees being retained. This is understandable. However, it is also important to consider the relationship between the trees and future users of the development. This was highlighted to me in a development from my days as a tree officer in a planning department. The proposal was to replace a residential home with several new five bedroom homes. A mature oak within the site was retained within the rear garden of one of the new homes. It was allocated sufficient space, but the new house now had a rear garden dominated by a large oak tree. It was the last of the development to sell. It would have been better to retain the tree within space at the front of the development. With another development, my guidance was sought to enable Birch trees, subject to a TPO, to be retained. The original design, for three 3-bedroom houses built around the trees, did not allow sufficient space for the trees to be successfully retained during the construction process. Changing the layout to one 4 bedroom and one 5 bedroom houses provided space for the trees and a healthy return on investment for the developer.’