Highway trees
Essex County Council is committed to maintaining and enhancing its highway tree stock, recognising the important environmental, social and landscape benefits that trees provide. We aim to manage existing trees responsibly and support retention where possible.
Our responsibilities
The Council has legal duties under highways, health and safety and liability legislation to manage risks associated with trees on the public highway. This includes taking reasonable steps to prevent harm to people and property while balancing the many benefits that trees provide.
Tree work is carried out in accordance with recognised Arboricultural standards and relevant legislation.
Essex Highways works in partnership with Basildon Borough Council where inspections and tree work are carried out behalf of Essex County Council.
When we will carry out tree work
Tree works are normally undertaken where there is:
- A safety concern affecting highway users.
- A legal nuisance caused by a tree.
- A need to maintain appropriate highway clearances.
- Evidence of disease, decline or structural defects.
- A requirement arising from highway maintenance or improvement works.
Works may include:
- Crown lifting
- Crown reduction
- Selective branch removal
- Pollarding or re-pollarding
- Removal of basal growth
- Tree felling; where necessary
- Stump removal
- Root management measures
When we will not normally carry out tree work
The Council does not normally undertake tree work solely to address:
- Leaf fall, seed drop, fruit or honeydew.
- Shading or loss of light.
- Branch overhang where no safety issue exists.
- Interference with television or satellite reception.
- Concerns that a tree may cause damage in the future.
- A perception that a tree is too large.
Many of these issues are considered natural and seasonal nuisances of living alongside trees.
Where an adjacent landowner wishes to carry out work to a Highway tree, they have a common law right to prune back to their boundaries, providing that all necessary statutory protection checks have been carried out and that the tree is not left in an unbalanced or unsafe condition.
Protected trees and wildlife
Some trees are protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) or are located within Conservation Areas. Tree works may require consent from the relevant planning authority unless specific exemptions apply.
Tree works must also comply with wildlife legislation protecting birds, bats and other species. Where ecological constraints exist, specialist advice may be required before work can proceed.
Highway clearance standards
To maintain safe access for all highway users, trees may be pruned to provide sufficient clearance over footways and roads.
Typical minimum clearances are:
- 2.4 metres above footpaths.
- 5.1 metres above carriageways.
Clearances may also be required around streetlights, signs and other highway infrastructure.
Private trees adjacent to the highway
Property owners are responsible for trees growing on their land.
Where a private tree is a risk to safe passage of highway users, obstructs the highway, affects visibility, or interferes with highway infrastructure, the Council may require the owner to undertake appropriate remedial work under Section 154 of the Highways Act 1980.
If necessary, the Council may carry out the works and seek to recover associated costs from the landowner.
Please see the Vegetation on (or from) private land section on the Grass and vegetation page for more information.
Utilities and highway trees
Utility companies are responsible for managing vegetation around their overhead equipment and for following relevant guidance when working near trees. Essex Highways would not prune solely for this concern.
Commercial bus routes
The Council manages highway tree clearance along commercial bus routes to ensure safe passage for vehicles. Planned vegetation management is generally undertaken during the dormant season, typically between October and March, subject to operational and ecological constraints.
For more information please see the Essex County Council tree management page.