Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether she has has made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring developers to replace trees felled during development on private land.

My Department has made no such assessment.

The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that development proposals should conserve and enhance existing natural features of visual, historic or nature conservation value such as established trees, and make provision for the long-term maintenance of both existing and newly-planted trees which form part of the development.

Where felling is not immediately required for the purpose of carrying out development authorised by planning permission, a felling licence is normally required before trees can be felled. A felling licence generally contains conditions that require trees to be restocked.