When trees become part of a decision, it rarely feels simple. You may be worried about delays to an extension, uncertainty over what the council will accept, or whether a protected tree is limiting your options. If a neighbour is unhappy, the pressure can rise quickly, especially when you want to do the right thing but cannot get a straight answer.
Safety concerns can feel just as urgent. A tree overhanging a driveway, a footpath, or a building can create worry about what might happen in high winds and whether you have done enough to meet your duty of care. If property movement or cracking is in the picture, it can be hard to know what information is needed and who is meant to provide it.
MDJ Arboricultural Consultancy helps homeowners, project teams, and property managers move forward with clear advice and robust documentation, particularly where trees and the planning system overlap.
An arboricultural consultant is there to assess trees and explain what the findings mean in plain English. The aim is to reduce uncertainty, so you can make decisions confidently and show that decisions are evidence-led.
In practical terms, this usually involves a site visit, a professional assessment of the trees, and written outputs that fit your situation. If planning is involved, the consultant can produce the tree information and planning documents commonly requested by local planning authorities. If risk is the concern, a structured tree risk assessment can help you prioritise actions sensibly and keep a clear record of decision-making.
Where technical language matters, MDJAC’s work includes BS5837:2012 development support and risk assessment methods aligned to recognised frameworks such as ISA Tree Risk and Visual Tree Assessment, with options to keep surveys proportionate.
MDJAC supports a broad mix of clients across domestic and commercial settings, including:
Homeowners needing clear guidance where protected trees, neighbour concerns, or planning uncertainty exist
Landlords and managing agents who need defensible decisions and clear records
Developers, architects, and planning consultants who need tree inputs to de-risk layouts and applications
Commercial property managers, estates, education sites, and housing associations managing duty of care at scale
Anyone dealing with councils or insurers who needs clear, properly presented documentation
Planning validation asks for arboricultural documents and you want to avoid back-and-forth queries
An extension or redesign needs a tree constraints view before the design is finalised
Planning conditions require a method statement or protection measures before work starts
A Tree Preservation Order question has come up and you want to understand what is likely to be acceptable
A neighbour dispute is developing and you need an independent assessment to reduce uncertainty
You need reassurance a tree is not presenting an unacceptable risk near buildings or areas people use
An insurer has raised trees as part of a subsidence or building damage claim
Every job is scoped around what you are trying to achieve and what a third party is asking for. Typical elements include:
Initial triage to clarify goals, constraints, and what paperwork is actually needed
Site visit and data collection proportionate to the issue and the site
Trees and development support aligned to BS5837:2012, including council-ready planning documents
Tree risk assessment surveys aligned to ISA Tree Risk and Visual Tree Assessment frameworks, with full inventory or negative reporting options
Tree Preservation Order support, including acting as an agent with the local planning authority and managing applications or objections where grounds exist
Subsidence and building damage input where instructed, providing evidence-led vegetation management recommendations
You receive clear outputs designed to help decisions move forward:
A written report that explains findings in plain English, backed by appropriate technical detail
Where needed, planning documents such as an Arboricultural Impact Assessment, Tree Protection Plan, and Arboricultural Method Statement
Risk assessment documentation with prioritised recommendations and a clear record for duty of care
Practical next steps, so you know what to do now and what to share with your designer, contractor, council, or insurer
MDJ Arboricultural Consultancy is an independent consultancy specialising in trees and the planning system across London and the south-east, with towns served including Esher.
Development work is built around BS5837:2012 and local planning authority validation requirements, producing the core documents councils ask for.
Benefit for you: fewer avoidable planning delays and a clearer route through conditions and technical queries.
The approach is designed to be easy to understand and implement, backed by a practical arborist-to-consultant background and client feedback that highlights responsiveness and practicality.
Benefit for you: less jargon, less guesswork, and recommendations that work on real sites.
Risk assessments align to recognised frameworks, with flexible survey options so you can manage safety proportionately and keep defensible records.
Benefit for you: clear priorities, sensible actions, and better documentation if decisions are ever questioned.
Professional credibility can matter when reports are reviewed. MDJAC’s lead consultant has formal arboriculture qualifications and professional memberships including Professional Member of the Arboricultural Association, Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, and PTI accreditation, with previous ISA TRAQ completion noted.
Local insight that saves time
Horsham’s busy centre around The Carfax, Piries Place and Swan Walk demands smart scheduling to minimise disruption. Parking, deliveries and pedestrian routes shape how tree work is planned. Sites near Horsham Park and the River Arun require careful consideration of public use, habitat features and utilities. Developments around Broadbridge Heath and along the A24 and A264 benefit from early root protection planning and contractor briefings that keep construction moving. You get advice aligned to Horsham District validation requirements and on the ground realities, which means fewer clarification requests and faster progress.
As an independent consultancy, we act in your best interests. Your project benefits from 13 years of practical arboricultural experience, membership of respected professional bodies and complete alignment with BS5837:2012. From single tree assessments to complex, multi plot developments, you receive the same attention to detail and friendly, prompt communication.
Professional memberships and qualifications
Do I need a consultant or a tree surgeon?
A tree surgeon carries out tree work. A consultant assesses, advises, and provides reports and plans for councils, insurers, or decision-making.
What documents might planning ask for?
Often an Arboricultural Impact Assessment and Tree Protection Plan, plus an Arboricultural Method Statement where construction impacts need managing.
Can you help with Tree Preservation Order applications?
Yes. MDJAC can advise on what is likely acceptable and act as an agent with the local planning authority where appropriate.
Will your report guarantee planning approval?
No one can guarantee an outcome. The goal is to provide clear, standard-aligned documents that reduce avoidable queries and uncertainty.
I’m worried a tree is unsafe. What happens next?
A site assessment is used to identify issues and provide prioritised recommendations, with documentation to support duty of care decisions.
Can you support subsidence or building damage investigations?
Yes, where instructed, including evidence-led vegetation management recommendations as part of wider insurer-led assessments.