Christopher Payne Ph.D, M.Arbor.A, FRSA
Arboriculture Consultant

I am an independent arboriculture consultant based in Derbyshire working across the Midlands, Yorkshire and Greater Manchester, with over 30 years experience across a broad range of projects.I am proud of my record of provision of quality solutions quickly.I hold a PhD in Forestry, a degree in Environmental Science and have Professional Membership of the Arboricultural Association and the Professional Tree Inspector certificate. My Fellowship of the Royal Society for the Arts recognises my contribution to arboriculture. I have lectured at several UK universities, presented my work at international conferences and published several scientific papers. If that all sounds too academic and not realistic or practical enough, be reassured that my feet are firmly on the ground (have run tree works contracting businesses and bike shops, personally renovated 2 listed buildings, converted 2 camper vans, climbed several very large volcanoes and most of the mountains and hills in Britain).Alongside my consultancy work I am also employed (for the last decade) by Derbyshire Dales District Council as Trees and Landscape Manager. This means I bring to my consultancy work invaluable experience that my clients directly benefit from, including:1. My responsibility for public tree safety at all Council owned properties including public parks, recreation grounds, car parks, cemeteries, etc..2. I am also the Council's statutory consultee for trees and planning applications, providing advice to the Planning Dept and responsible for assessing arboricultural impact of proposed developments, protecting trees and their contribution to the character and appearance of the urban and rural landscapes. I therefore sit on both sides of the fence, both preparing and assessing tree reports for planning applications.3. My role also includes recommending whether the Council gives consent for work to trees subject to TPO or conservation area, and for making new TPO's.

Email: [email protected]Phone: 07943 691 364Office Address : Winster, Matlock, Derbyshire, DE4 2DJ

Support for Planning Applications : Tree Surveys, Tree Constraints Plans, Arboricultural Impact Assessments, Tree Protection Plans, Arboricultural Method Statements and Tree Planting Specifications (often simply called Tree Report or Arboricultural Report)

Provision of these documents to British Standard BS 5837:2012 in support of planning applications are my bread and butter. They are usually required by Local Planning Authorities / Councils where planning applications for proposed development may negatively affect trees and their contribution to amenity or character and appearance of the site and its locality.I am highly experienced in preparation of all such tree related documents for all types of proposed development. I have provided some examples of recent work I have completed on this page to give insight into the type of work I regularly undertake.My reports are based on a series of annotated, clear, to scale CAD drawings rather than boring pages upon pages of indigestible text produced by most arboriculture consultants. Council Planning Officers and Trees Officers respond positively to my presentation method because it focusses on the essential information they need allowing them to quickly and clearly understand the arboricultural information. Having been the Trees Officer at Derbyshire Dales district Council for the last decade, I truly recognise the importance of this and am confident that it helps secure their positive response.I am regularly instructed by architects, planning agents, landowners, developers, homeowners and businesses for sites across the Midlands, Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, including Derby, Leicester, Nottingham, Chesterfield, Sheffield, etc.As a respected professional I have a great record producing high quality, submission ready, reports and scale drawings. My experience is invaluable in overcoming tree-related planning application problems.All surveys, reports and drawings are completed personally myself - I do not employ trainees or lower qualified staff or sub-contractors.I am fully independent consultant with no connections to any tree surgeons so have no temptation to recommend tree removals or pruning un-necassarily to generate income.

Applications for works to Trees Subject to Tree Preservation Orders and Conservation Areas, Tree Safety Advice, Woodland Management, Felling Licence Applications

I regularly provide tree safety surveys and inspections. Anybody owning trees has public safety obligations which I can help you to manage.I offer independent advice on how to care for your trees.I can help manage your woodland to benefit wildlife and biodiversity.I can prepare applications on your behalf for works to protected trees, tree preservation orders, trees in conservation areas, felling licences, and have a very good record of success with the Planning Inspectorate in appealing refusals to grant consent.

Examples of Recent Projects I Have Completed

A Tree Survey, Tree Constraints Plan, Arboricultural Impact Assessment, and Tree Protection Plan in support of a planning application to Derby City Council for a house extension at a site in Littleover, Derby.A Tree Survey, Tree Constraints Plan, Arboricultural Impact Assessment and Tree Protection Plan in support of a planning application for 2 new houses at a site in Hucknall NottinghamA Tree Survey, Tree Constraints Plan, Arboricultural Impact Assessment and Tree Protection Plan in support of a planning application for a new office building at a site in an industrial/commercial estate in Leicester.An application to Nottingham City Council for removal of several TPO trees causing dangerous trip hazard at a mosque including replacement planting using an engineered tree pit system to allow permanent repairs to a pedestrian area.A Tree Survey, Tree Constraints Plan, Arboricultural Impact Assessment, and Tree Protection Plan in support of a planning application for 2 new houses at a site in Tamworth, Staffordshire.A Tree Survey, Tree Constraints Plan, Arboricultural Impact Assessment and Tree Protection Plan in support of a planning application to Kirklees Council for construction of a new training facility for Huddersfield Giants professional rugby team.Application to Forestry Commission for a Felling Licence for removal of 50 diseased trees at a farm in the Peak District.Tree replanting specifications at a commercial site in Derby for approval by the council following removal of several TPO trees.Tree Survey, Tree Constraints Plan, Arboricultural Impact Assessment and Tree Protection Plan in support of a planning application to build 4 houses in the grounds of a golf course in Manchester.Tree Survey, Tree Constraints Plan, Arboricultural Impact Assessment and tree replacement planting specifications in support of a planning application for a new agricultural building at a farm in the Peak District.An application to Derby City Council for removal of a TPO tree that had been inadvertently damaged to facilitate replacement planting using an engineered tree pit system beneath a domestic driveway.Tree Survey, Tree Constraints Plan, Arboricultural Impact Assessment and Tree Protection Plan in support of a planning application to Peak District National Park Authority for construction of a new Scout hut at Hathersage and advice to architect regarding appropriate construction methods to use near mature trees.An application to Peak District National Park Authority to remove a tree at a listed domestic property in a conservation area in the Peak District.Tree Survey, Tree Constraints Plan, Arboricultural Impact Assessment and tree replacement planting specifications in support of a planning application for a new covered silage store at a farm in the Peak District.A Tree Safety Survey with prioritised mitigation works and a woodland management plan to maximise wildlife potential for a privately owned woodland in West Yorkshire, including an application to the council for consent to work on trees subject to Tree Preservation Order and an application for a felling licence to the Forestry Commission.A Tree Survey, Tree Constraints Plan, Arboricultural Impact Assessment, and Tree Protection Plan in support of a planning application to Derby City Council for a house extension at a site in Derby.Successful appeal to the Planning Inspectorate against refusal of Kirklees council to permit removal of pine trees that were subject to Tree Preservation Order that were damaging a house as a result of root growth.Application to council to prune trees subject to Tree Preservation Order that were overhanging a shop in Greenfield, Greater Manchester.A Tree Survey, Tree Constraints Plan, Arboricultural Impact Assessment and Tree Protection Plan in support of a planning application to Peak District National Park Authority for a new dwelling house near Tideswell.A Tree Survey and Arboricultural Impact Assessment in support of a planning application for a dog exercise field and associated infrastructure near Derby.A Tree Survey, Tree Constraints Plan, Arboricultural Impact Assessment and Tree Protection Plan in support of a planning application to build a new house on land to the rear of existing houses in Mossley.A tree survey and arboricultural impact assessment report to support a planning application to Peak District National Park Authority for new agricultural buildings on a farm near Tideswell.A Tree Survey and Tree Constraints Plan for the grounds of a private school in Leicestershire to inform site layout planning for a proposed development of new buildings.A Tree Safety Survey with prioritised recommendations for mitigation works and applications for consent for tree works to trees subject to Tree Preservation Orders and Felling Licence from Forestry Commission and project management of tree works at a nursing home in Derby.Advice to a property developer for a large redevelopment site in Chesterfield regarding the need to obtain a Felling Licence from the Forestry Commission for proposed tree removals.Investigation works to identify extent of rooting area of a large historic tree in support of a planning application for construction of a new house in Derby.A Tree Survey, Tree Constraints Plan, Arboricultural Impact Assessment and Tree Protection Plan in support of a planning application to Nottingham city Council for a small housing development.A Tree Safety Survey with recommendations for prioritised mitigation works for a homeowner with extensive grounds near Spalding.Preparation of justification report for removal of a tree subject to Tree Preservation Order that was removed without first obtaining council consent that successfully avoided the tree’s owner being prosecuted by Derby City Council.A Tree Safety Survey with recommendations for prioritised mitigation works at a solicitors offices in Lincolnshire.An application to Peak District National Park Authority to remove and prune trees at a domestic property in a conservation area in the Peak District.An application to Peak District National Park Authority to remove large tree growing in a conservation area and close to an historic barn near Bakewell to facilitate redevelopment into a house.A Tree Survey, Tree Constraints Plan, Arboricultural Impact Assessment and Tree Protection Plan to support a planning application to build 2 houses in the grounds of a rural house near Leicester.Assessment of trees in a large grounds of a house in Derby to identify any poisonous to dogs for a concerned owner.Tree Safety Inspections, Tree Survey, Tree Constraints Plan and Arboricultural Impact Assessment in support of a planning application for a glamping site near Holmfirth.Tree Survey, Tree Constraints Plan, Arboricultural Impact Assessment and Tree Protection Plan in support of a planning application to build 2 houses in the grounds of a house in Derby.Advise to a homeowner in Devon and their solicitor suffering damage to their buildings resulting from tree root growth from neighbouring land.Development of specifications for a tree planting scheme for a council for approximately 500 trees across numerous public accessible sites.Assessment of storm damaged trees across several council properties including specification of tree works and project management of contractors.Surveys to identify and inspections of trees showing symptoms of ash dieback disease, risk assessment and specification of recommended works across numerous council owned sites.A Tree Survey, Tree Constraints Plan, Arboricultural Impact Assessment and Tree Protection Plan in support of a planning application to build 2 houses in the grounds of a house near Halifax.Application to Natural England for consent to remove dangerous trees from a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Derbyshire.