Landscape guidance

Guidance on submitting a landscape plan

Approved planting plans will provide sufficient information to be enforceable by detailing the following:

• Plan is to an identified true scale (for example 1:200).
• Boundary of the application site is clearly marked.
• Site orientation is indicated by a north point or OS grid lines.
• All existing trees, shrubs and hedges to be retained are clearly marked.
• Take account of site factors such as slope, aspect, soil conditions, proximity of buildings and minimum distances from pipe and cable runs, when choosing planting positions. Where necessary, seek professional landscape advice.
• Planting positions are clearly marked showing individual trees and shrubs and/or planting area boundaries using dimensions as necessary.
• All species of plants identified using their full botanical name (for example oak – Quercus robur)
• All plant numbers to be identified individually or by group or area as appropriate. Species mixes can be identified by percentages and an overall number or a specified area and a planting density (for example Betula pendula 30%, Quercus robur 70%, 120 square metres at one plant per four square metres = 9 B. pendula and 21 Q. robur)
• A planting schedule identifies all the proposed planting by species and specification indicating size and nature of plants to be used (for example, Extra heavy standard tree 14-16cms girth or shrub 60-75cms high in two litre pot.)
• Notes on the plan describe how the planting is to be carried out and maintained to ensure successful establishment
• The plan indicates when the work will be completed and ready for inspection taking account of planting seasons (for example November to end March each year for bare rooted plants.)

Please note, planting conditions are only discharged following an inspection of the completed work.

Guides

We have produced a number of guidance notice on landscaping, covering:

• Tall screen hedge planting
• Shrub and small tree planting
• Hedge detail
• Low boundary hedge
• Screen hedge and double palisade fence
• Palisade fence with climbers
• Prepared rootball tree
• Shrub planting
• No-dig bark footpath