Essential Tree Canopy Strategies for Planners and Architects: Meeting Planning Permission Requirements in Cornwall
In the face of climate change, expanding the UK’s and Cornwall’s tree canopy is more crucial than ever. While the UK government aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, Cornwall aims to achieve this by 2030. Tree canopies are vital in absorbing carbon dioxide, reducing air pollution, intercepting and slowing stormwater, and providing natural cooling by shading streets and buildings—critical for tackling rising temperatures and poor air quality in urban areas. Increasing tree cover with a balanced mix of climate-resilient species is both a practical and effective strategy to help achieve these ambitious goals.
For developers and planners, meeting tree canopy requirements is not just a regulatory checkbox but an essential component of sustainable development. A coordinated approach to landscape and ecology design is key to maximising the environmental benefits of green spaces within development sites. By collaborating with arboricultural consultants, planners, architects, engineers, and other environmental professionals, CEC helps its clients meet UK planning policy requirements, such as those outlined in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and Cornwall Council’s Climate Emergency Development Plan Document (DPD).
Cornwall Council’s Climate Emergency DPD Policy G3 sets an ambitious target of achieving a minimum 15% canopy cover on suitable development sites, using a combination of existing and proposed trees and scrub. To help demonstrate this at the planning stage, Cornwall Council has developed a tree canopy calculator, which is completed as the project evolves. This tool identifies and monitors existing trees, hedges, and scrub to be retained, as well as new cover proposed as part of the landscape design. The calculator (shown below) estimates the projected canopy size of trees, hedges, and scrub at 25 years of age.
Once the landscape design is finalised, CEC can complete the tree canopy ready for submission as part of the planning application, along with a Canopy Provision Plan that illustrates projected canopy provision at 25 years of growth.
Cornwall Council provides detailed guidance on optimising and demonstrating tree canopy provision. CEC’s approach not only helps clients meet the 15% tree canopy goal but also ensures compliance with statutory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements and the optimisation of the site’s green and blue infrastructure.
