The Forestry (Felling of Trees) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2023

Title, coming into force, application and interpretation.

1.—(1) The title of these Regulations is the Forestry (Felling of Trees) (Amendment) (Wales) Regulations 2023.

(2) These Regulations come into force on 1 April 2024.

(3) These Regulations apply in relation to Wales.

(4) In these Regulations, “the Act” means the Forestry Act 1967.

Amendments to The Forestry (Felling of Trees) Regulations 1979

2.  The Forestry (Felling of Trees) Regulations 1979(1) are amended as follows.

Amendments in respect of felling licences or notices regarding trees for which there is a Tree Preservation Order.

3.  After regulation 4 insert—

“Prescribed period for objection to agreement of amendments to a felling licence

4A.— (1) For the purposes of section 10A(3) of the Act, the prescribed period in which the authority by whom the Tree Preservation Order was made may object is one month from the date of receipt of the notice.

(2) The prescribed period in regulation 4A(1) does not apply if the NRBW consider the amendment is necessary to respond to an imminent and serious risk of harm to—

(i) natural beauty, or

(ii) flora, fauna, geological or physiographical features, or natural habitats.”.

4.  After regulation 13 insert—

“Prescribed period for objection to notice given under section 24C(3) or 24E(2).

13A.— (1) For the purposes of section 24F(4) of the Act, the prescribed period in which the authority by whom the Tree Preservation Order was made may object to the notice is one month from the date of receipt of the notice.

(2) The prescribed period in regulation 13A(1) does not apply if the NRBW consider that the emergency criteria in section 24F(2) of the Act apply.”.

Amendments relating to appeals against notices served by the NRBW under Sections 24C, 24D and 24E.

5.  After regulation 14 insert—

“Appeals under section 26A and 26B of the Act against section 24C, 24D and 24E notices.

14A.— (1) An appeal under section 26A against a notice served under sections 24C(3) and 24D(2) must be in Form 9A and must be served on the Welsh Ministers within three months beginning on the day after receipt of the notice by a person with the right to bring an appeal as set out in Section 26A(1).

(2) An appeal under section 26B against a notice served under section 24E(2) (appeal against a notice where no breach of condition or licence), must be in Form 9A and shall be served on the Welsh Ministers within 3 months beginning on the day after receipt of the notice by a person with the right to bring an appeal as set out in section 26B(1) of the Act.

(3) Where an appeal is made under the grounds in sections 26A(2)(e) or 26B(2)(d), that a suspension should have been brought to an end by a notice, the appeal to the Welsh Ministers may be made at any time during the suspension of the licence even if this falls after the three month period specified in regulations 14A(1) and 14A(2).”.

6.  After Form 9 (which appears in Schedule 1 to the Forestry (Felling of Trees) Regulations 1979 (2)) insert Form 9A (appeal against notices served under sections 24C, 24D and 24E) as set out in Schedule 2 to these Regulations.

Amendments relating to claims for compensation arising from notices issued under sections 24C, 24D and 24E.

7.  After regulation 15 insert—

“Claims for compensation under sections 26D, 26E and 26F

15A.— (1) A claim for compensation made under sections 26D, and 26F of the Act by the relevant person, or, in the case of a claim made under section 26E, the person to whom the notice was given, must be made to the NRBW on Form 1A.

(2) Where the claim for compensation arises from a successful appeal of a notice given under sections 24C(3), 24D(2) or 24E(2) after which the notice is subsequently cancelled in accordance with 26C(6)(b) of the Act, the prescribed period for claiming expenses reasonably incurred by the relevant person or the person to whom the notice was given, will be eighteen months beginning on the day after the day on which the Welsh Ministers send notification of a successful appeal outcome and cancellation of the notice.

(3) Where a claim for compensation arises from a successful appeal against a suspension of a felling licence given under section 24C(3) or 24E(2), and the NRBW are subsequently directed by the Welsh Ministers to lift the suspension in accordance with 26C(6)(a)(i) of the Act, the prescribed period for claiming expenses reasonably incurred, by the relevant person, will be eighteen months after the date on which the suspension is lifted.

(4) Where a claim for compensation arises for depreciation in the value of the trees, attributable to deterioration in the quality of the timber, as a result of a successful appeal against a notice issued under section 24C(3), which is subsequently cancelled (in accordance with 26C(6)(b), or the suspension of which is lifted in accordance with 26C(6)(a)(i)), the prescribed period for the relevant person to make a claim is set out in 26G(3)(a) of the Act, unless the timber has not been felled, in which case the prescribed period is eighteen months.

(5) Where the relevant person makes a claim solely for compensation for depreciation in the value of the trees, attributable to deterioration in the quality of the timber, arising from a notice given under section 24E(2) of the Act, in accordance with 26F(2), the prescribed periods for claims are those set out in Section 26G(3) to the Act.

(6) For a claim made under section 26D, relevant person has the meaning given by section 26D(4) of the Act.

(7) For a claim made under section 26F, relevant person has the meaning given by section 26F(5) of the Act.”.

8.  After Form 1 (which appears in Schedule 1 to the Forestry (Felling of Trees) Regulations 1979) insert Form 1A (compensation arising from notices served under sections 24C, 24D and 24E) as set out in Schedule 1 to these regulations.

Julie James

Minister for Climate Change, one of the Welsh Ministers

10 October 2023