Forestry Act (Northern Ireland) 2010

Restriction of felling

Requirement of licence for felling

15.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), a person shall not fell trees growing on land of 0.2 hectares or more in area unless a licence granted by the Department under this Part (“a felling licence”) is in force authorising the felling.

(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to—

(a) the felling of trees with a diameter not exceeding 8 centimetres or, in the case of coppice or underwood, with a diameter not exceeding 15 centimetres;

(b) the felling of fruit trees;

(c) the felling of trees on land comprised in an orchard, garden, churchyard or on open space used (otherwise than in pursuance of Part 3 of the Access to the Countryside (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 (NI 18)) for the purpose of public recreation;

(d) the topping or lopping of trees or the trimming or laying of hedges;

(e) the felling by any person of trees on land occupied by that person or by a tenant of that person—

(i) where the trees have a diameter not exceeding 10 centimetres and the felling is carried out in order to improve the growth of other trees; or

(ii) where the aggregate cubic content of the trees which are felled by that person without a licence (exclusive of trees to whose felling subsection (1) does not apply) does not exceed 5 cubic metres in any quarter;

(f) the felling of trees for the prevention of danger or the prevention or abatement of a nuisance;

(g) the felling of a tree in compliance with any obligation imposed by or under any statutory provision (including a provision of this Act);

(h) the felling of a tree carried out by, or at the request of, an electricity undertaker, because the tree is or will be in such close proximity to an electric line or electrical plant which is kept installed or is being or is to be installed by the undertaker as to have the effect mentioned in paragraph 14(1)(a) or (b) of Schedule 4 to the Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992 (NI 1);

(i) the felling of a tree where the felling is immediately required for the purpose of carrying out development authorised by planning permission;

(j) the felling by statutory undertakers of a tree on land in their occupation which obstructs the construction of any works required for the purposes of the undertaking by those undertakers, or of a tree which interferes with the maintenance or operation of any works vested in those undertakers;

(k) the felling of trees by a government department;

(l) the felling of a tree which requires the consent of the Department of the Environment under the provisions of a tree preservation order;

(m) the felling of a tree to which Article 66B of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 (NI 11) applies (trees in conservation area).

(3) Any person who fells trees in contravention of this section commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale or twice the sum which appears to the court to be the value of the trees, whichever is the higher.

(4) Regulations may—

(a) make provision as to the calculation of the area of any land for the purposes of subsection (1);

(b) amend subsection (2), whether by amending or removing an existing exemption or adding a new exemption.

(5) In this section—

“electricity undertaker” means a licence holder within the meaning of Part 2 of the Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992 by whom the powers conferred by paragraph 14 (tree lopping) of Schedule 4 to that Order are exercisable;

“electric line” and “electrical plant” have the same meanings as in Part 2 of the Electricity (Northern Ireland) Order 1992;

“planning permission” means permission granted or deemed to have been granted under the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991;

“quarter” means the period of three months beginning with the 1st January, 1st April, 1st July or 1st October in any year;

“statutory undertaker” has the same meaning as in the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991;

“tree preservation order” means an order made under Article 65 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991;

and references to the diameter of trees shall be construed as references to the diameter, measured over the bark, at a point 1.3 metres above the ground level.

Application for felling licence

16.—(1) An application for a felling licence may be made to the Department in the prescribed manner by any person who has such an estate in the land on which the trees are growing as enables that person, with or without the consent of any other person, to fell the trees.

(2) On an application under this section the Department may—

(a) grant the licence, subject to section 18; or

(b) refuse it.

(3) Where the Department refuses to grant a felling licence, it shall give notice in writing to the applicant of the grounds for the refusal.

Compensation on refusal of felling licence

17.—(1) If the Department refuses an application for a felling licence in the case of any trees, any person who is for the time being the owner of the trees is entitled to compensation for any depreciation in the value of the trees which is attributable to deterioration in the quality of the timber comprised therein in consequence of the refusal of a felling licence for them.

(2) Compensation under this section shall be recoverable from the Department on a claim made in the prescribed manner.

(3) Claims for the compensation in the case of any trees may be made from time to time in respect of deterioration taking place after the refusal of a felling licence for those trees, but—

(a) no such claim shall be made in respect of deterioration taking place more than 10 years before the date of the claim; and

(b) if the trees have been felled, no such claim shall be made after the expiration of one year from the date of the felling.

(4) In calculating compensation—

(a) no account shall be taken of deterioration in the quality of the timber which is attributable to neglect of the trees after the refusal of a felling licence for them; and

(b) the value of the trees at any time shall be ascertained on the basis of prices current at the date of the claim.

(5) Any question of disputed compensation shall be referred to and determined by the Lands Tribunal.

Operation and conditions of felling licence

18.—(1) A felling licence shall continue in force for such period (not being less than 5 years from the date on which it is granted) as is specified in the licence.

(2) A felling licence in respect of trees on any land shall be granted subject to—

(a) the conditions set out in the felling management plan for that land; and

(b) such other conditions (if any) as are specified in the licence.

(3) The felling management plan for any land is a document which sets out conditions regulating the felling of trees on that land authorised by a felling licence; and accordingly a felling licence authorises the felling of trees on any land in accordance with, and subject to, the felling management plan for the time being in force in relation to that land.

(4) The conditions in a felling management plan for any land may in particular—

(a) set out the times at which, or periods within which, the felling of specified trees is authorised;

(b) require the restocking or stocking of that land with trees of a specified species and the maintenance of those trees in accordance with the rules and practice of good forestry for a period not exceeding the period for which the licence remains in force;

(c) prohibit the restocking of open ground created by the felling of trees for a period not exceeding the period for which the licence remains in force.

(5) In determining the felling management plan for any land which consists of, or includes, ancient woodland, the Department shall have regard to the desirability of maintaining the special character of that woodland.

(6) Regulations may make provision about the drawing up, form, content and amendment of, and other matters relating to, felling management plans.

Deferred decision on an application for felling licence

19.—(1) Where a person applies for a felling licence and the Department does not within 3 months after receiving the application, or within such further time as may be agreed with the applicant, give notice to the applicant of its decision on the application, the provisions of this Part apply in relation to the application as if it had been refused.

(2) Subsections (3) and (4) apply if on an application for a felling licence it appears to the Department that the applicant is not entitled to an estate in the land which would enable the applicant to comply with the conditions of the licence (if granted).

(3) The Department may give notice in writing to that effect to the applicant and postpone consideration of the application until the person entitled to such an estate is joined as a party to the application.

(4) Where a notice under subsection (3) is given, subsection (1) applies as if, instead of referring to a period of 3 months after the Department receives the application, it referred to a period of 3 months after the date on which the person entitled to such an estate in the land as is mentioned in the notice is joined as a party to the application.

Appeal against decision of Department on application for felling licence

20.—(1) A person aggrieved by—

(a) the refusal of the Department to grant a felling licence on an application, or

(b) any conditions subject to which a felling licence is granted by the Department,

may appeal to a person appointed under section 26.

(2) On an appeal under this section the person appointed under section 26 may—

(a) confirm the decision of the Department on the application; or

(b) in the case of an appeal under subsection (1)(a), direct the Department to issue a felling licence subject to the such conditions as are specified in the direction; or

(c) in the case of an appeal under subsection (1)(b), direct the Department to modify the conditions subject to which the felling licence was granted.

(3) It is the duty of the Department to give effect to any direction under subsection (2)(b) or (c).

Fees in connection with felling licences

21.—(1) Such fees as may be prescribed shall be charged by the Department in respect of—

(a) applications for felling licences;

(b) the issue of felling licences;

(c) the continuation in force of felling licences.

(2) Regulations may provide—

(a) for fees to be payable at such times as may be prescribed;

(b) for fees to be payable in one sum or by instalments.

(3) The Department may decline to proceed with—

(a) any application for a felling licence, or

(b) the issue of any felling licence,

until any fee or instalment of a fee in respect of the application or issue (as the case may be) is duly paid.

(4) If, in the case of any application for a felling licence, any fee or instalment of a fee in respect of the application for or issue of the licence is not duly paid by the prescribed time—

(a) the application shall be treated as withdrawn at that time; and

(b) any decision made on the application ceases to have effect at that time.

(5) If any fee or instalment of a fee in respect of the continuation in force of a felling licence is not duly paid by the prescribed time, the licence terminates at that time.

(6) The Department may, if it considers there to be exceptional circumstances that justify its doing so in any case where subsection (4) or (5) has applied, direct that as from the time mentioned in that subsection its effect in that case be disregarded.

(7) Regulations under this section may provide for fees to be remitted or refunded (in whole or part) in prescribed cases.