Urban Tree Protection and Sites Locally Important for Ecology Bill 2023

Public bill · Private Member · Introduced

Aimed at protecting urban trees and ecologically important local sites, this proposal would create a new category for places of local ecological value and strengthen the rules for preserving trees. It would also require councils to keep public online registers of these protected sites and tree orders, add a way to appeal decisions, and make it easier to require tree replacement when trees are cut down. It matters because it could give local nature spots and trees stronger, more transparent protection in planning and road management.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to establish a new designation for the protection of nature sites, the Sites Locally Important for Ecology Order, to improve protection for trees under the existing Tree Preservation Order, including prioritising preservation, lopping, and trimming; to provide for local authorities to maintain a public register of Sites Locally Important for Ecology and Tree Preservation Orders; to provide for an appeals process for when the decision regarding a Tree Preservation Order or a Site Locally Important for Ecology Order has been made; and to provide for the replacement of trees that have been cut down.

Last updated 2 May 2025