Tree House Requires Planning Permission!

cddc

Our builders used leftover scrap wood from our recent building and fencing work to build my 6 year old boy a tree house on their last day on site a couple of weeks ago.

Lo and Behold, yesterday cometh a lady from the council saying that we must apply for planning permission for it! A neighbor had complained to the council about it... She was very sympathetic and agreed that the law was a bit of an !!! on this one...but it is true!

Anything with a raised floor over 30cm from ground level counts as a platform or balcony and requires permission. This includes certain climbing frames and many types of off the shelf children's outdoor play equipment.

You have to go through the full planning process as if you were planning an extension, and pay the same fees.

So unless you want to fall foul of this one, watch what you build or buy to entertain your children outdoors...

Alternatively, you may, of course, go ahead and be fine if you don't have my neighbor.

Anybody want her? I'm thinking of trying to sell her on ebay.....:mad:

whitewing

Are you likely to get retrospective planning permission?

I would've expected the builders to know about pp.

cddc

Don't think it a regular thing for them to do tree houses! They only did it as a bit of fun at the end of the job.

The answer to that is I don't know yet ..the funny thing is we had not completed it, we planned to put a roof and solid sides on where it would potentially overlook anyone and at the moment it has no way of getting up to it either. She said if we could provide her with more details she would advise her of how likely it would be to get through before we apply...she was quite sympathetic, so we will see...

I_have_spoken

Seems fair enough, you're neighbour has a right to privacy

2013yearofthehouse

I wish this applied to trampolines, but I don't think it does?

Sorry, back on topic....

It's a shame your neighbour was so quick to say something, perhaps if you'd put the sides up quicker and it didn't overlook her, then she wouldn't have said anything. Personally I wouldn't mind as long as it didn't overlook me, but if it did then I can kind of see your neighbours point, sorry.

It is ridiculous that full planning permission (and the same fees) is needed though, especially with relaxed permitted development - I would think PD with neighbour consulation would be a better option for something presumably so small. Afterall it's not really as "permanent" as an extension - if you sold your house the new owners might take a treehouse down (or you yourself might once your child(ren) outgrow it), whereas they'd be unlikely to knock down a whole extension.

lstar337

Remember to report any slight overstep your neighbour might make in the future, just to return the favour.

cayennepepper

Interesting. We recently bought a house and we also have a tree house at the bottom of the garden. I am pretty sure the previous owners did not apply for planning permission. We back onto a park yet no one has complained so far. Must have better neighbours!

I would do nothing for now and see if the Council forgets about it. And if you know which neighbour complained, see if you can have a kind word to reassure them. My children never actually go on ours.

And I agree with the other poster about trampolines!

PasturesNew

Without walls or a roof, isn't it just a big bird table?

warmhands.coldheart

UNBELIEVEABLE !! What are they going to legislate against next, The Mind Boggles !!

Davesnave

It's a principle thing.

If you may be constrained from overlooking your neighbour with a permanent structure, then there is no logical reason for making a 'temporary' one a free for all.

Down my way, a few people have installed high platforms in their gardens as a way of gaining a view over farmers' hedges. They are just very raised decks where the odd meal and glass of wine can be taken. I doubt if most folk who do this apply for permission, or if the cows & sheep care.

Transfer the above into an urban environment, however, with smaller gardens and higher population densities and the drawbacks are obvious. There is often precious little privacy on modern estates as it is.

rustyboy21

I don't know, they may be frightened of immigrants moving into it, whilst you are away !


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2362393/Inside-migrant-Shed-City-Immigrants-living-cramped-illegally-built-garden-sheds.html


There was something on a BBC program about this, a guy built a luxury tree house and his neighbours complained as they like to sunbath nude. It was 1/2 mile away from their house ! He got the permission, but It appears that the proximity to other houses is a major constraint, anything less than 100m away would get refused, or something like that, especially if the other houses were overlooked.