Structural Engineers Can Help Save Trees in Subsidence Disputes
In the wake of growing concern over the felling of protected trees due to subsidence claims, a question worth asking is:
- Are we exhausting all technical alternatives before reaching for the chainsaw?
Across the UK, councils are being forced to choose between preserving mature trees and avoiding the financial risk of property damage claims. With insurers warning of costly repair liabilities, some local authorities feel they have no option but to approve the removal of trees under Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) even when the evidence linking those trees to the damage is unclear or incomplete.
But structural engineers can offer another way.
Alternative explanations upon deeper investigation
As Chartered Structural Engineers with experience in diagnosing and managing subsidence, we regularly work on cases where trees are initially assumed to be the cause of movement only to find alternative explanations upon deeper investigation.
Our role is to provide objective, technical analysis that goes beyond surface assumptions and helps decision-makers understand the real cause of the damage.
Where trees are a contributing factor, that doesn’t mean felling is the only answer. There are a range of engineering-led solutions from tree root barriers and underpinning, to load redistribution and ground improvement that can stabilise buildings without destroying valuable canopy cover.
Expert technical support
We believe local authorities should feel confident resisting pressure to approve tree removals when evidence is weak or when mitigation is viable.
But to do so, they need expert technical support and strong documentation that can stand up to scrutiny from insurers and tribunals.
Structural engineers add value
One recent case involving Enfield Council demonstrated that councils can successfully defend themselves when evidence for tree-related subsidence is insufficient.
That’s exactly where structural engineers add value: delivering the kind of
- detailed investigations
- monitoring data, and
- reasoned analysis
that makes those defences possible.
Our aim is to work alongside tree officers, insurers, and councils to protect both the built environment and the natural landscape. Mature trees take decades to grow but only minutes to lose. When budgets are tight and legal risks are high, engineering insight can help preserve both.
We want to support tree officers, surveyors, and local authorities in managing complex subsidence cases. Our goal is to help councils make confident, defensible decisions, preserving mature trees wherever possible.
With the right technical input, tree removal doesn’t have to be the default.
Contact Us
Book a free, no-obligation call to explore how we can help you protect structures without sacrificing trees.
Call us today on 0118 962 9666.
