Topographical Survey Deliverables
| Deliverable | Format | Use | | --- | --- | --- | | Contour plan | DWG + PDF | Planning submission | | Spot levels | CSV | Drainage design | | Boundary positions | DWG | Land Registry |
2025 Topographical Survey Costs (ex VAT)
| Site Size | Survey Cost | | --- | --- | | 0.1–0.5 hectare | £595–£1,000 | | 0.5–1 hectare | £800–£1,500 | | 1–2 hectares | £1,200–£2,000 |
Tree Positions Topographical Survey London
icelabz provides topographical surveys that include accurate tree position data across Greater London, delivering the survey information needed for planning applications, arboricultural impact assessments, and landscape design.
Why Tree Positions Matter in London Planning
Trees are a material consideration in London planning. The presence of trees on a development site affects what can be built, where it can be built, and how it must be designed. Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) protect specific trees from cutting down, topping, or lopping without the council's consent. Development that damages or destroys a protected tree can result in criminal prosecution, enforcement action, and conditions requiring costly tree surgery or replacement planting.
For planning applications in London, the planning authority will typically require a survey showing the positions of all trees on and adjacent to the application site, along with their species, height, canopy spread, and stem diameter measured at 1.5m above ground level (the measurements used in arboricultural impact assessments). This information allows the planning authority and the applicant's arboricultural consultant to assess the likely impact of the proposed development on the tree stock.
In addition to TPOs, most London boroughs have policies protecting trees of a certain size regardless of whether they are subject to a TPO, and guidance on the minimum distances that new buildings must be set back from trees (root protection areas, or RPAs). Accurate tree position data is essential to demonstrate that the proposed development complies with these policies.
What a Tree Positions Survey Captures
A tree positions topographical survey captures the positions of all trees on and adjacent to the application site, along with the standard topographical detail needed for the planning application. The tree data typically includes:
Tree positions: The X and Y coordinate of each tree, surveyed to an accuracy of ±50mm or better, plotted on the site plan.
Species identification: The common and botanical name of each tree, identified on site by the surveyor.
Tree measurements: Height (estimated or measured), canopy spread (at the four cardinal points), and stem diameter at 1.5m above ground level. These measurements are used in the arboricultural impact assessment to calculate the root protection area for each tree.
Canopy condition: A visual assessment of the tree's condition — good, fair, poor, or dead — which affects the planning authority's assessment of the tree's value and the likely impact of the development.
The tree data is delivered as a layer on the topographical survey drawing, in DWG format, alongside a separate tree schedule listing the measurements for each tree. The survey is referenced to the Ordnance Survey National Grid and datum.
Why Commission a Specialist Tree Positions Survey in London
London's trees are numerous and diverse, and accurate tree position data is essential for any planning application involving trees. A specialist tree positions survey in London will capture tree data to the accuracy and in the format required for arboricultural impact assessments and planning submissions.
icelabz provides tree positions topographical surveys across Greater London. Our surveyors are experienced in tree survey work and understand the requirements of London planning authorities and arboricultural best practice. We work with arboricultural consultants and landscape architects to provide the survey data they need for impact assessments and planning applications.
Getting Started
To commission a tree positions topographical survey in London, contact icelabz with the site address and details of your planning application. We will confirm the survey specification — including the size of the survey area, the level of detail required, and any specific tree survey requirements from the planning authority — and provide a fixed-fee quote. Surveys are typically completed within five to ten working days of instruction.
Typical Tree Positions Survey Costs in London
Tree positions topographical survey costs in London depend on the size of the site and the number of trees to be surveyed. For a typical residential development site with a moderate number of trees, a tree positions topographical survey typically costs from around £500 to £1,000. For larger sites with many trees, costs scale with the number of trees and the level of detail required.