Planning expert please???

Hoploz

If it's any help, Class E of Permitted Development refers to "a building or enclosure"

cyclonebri1

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

Has anyone tried calling the local planning office to ask their definition of a structure?

the words in my noriginal post may help you, ie, (I have asked the involved planning dept of course but the words "in my view" where used when I asked so I am looking for collaboration ie confirmation of what they said.)

Silver-Surfer_2

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

the words in my noriginal post may help you, ie, (I have asked the involved planning dept of course but the words "in my view" where used when I asked so I am looking for collaboration ie confirmation of what they said.)

Collaboration is the action of working with someone to produce something.

Not sure you've used the right choice of words there.

So basically you want someone to tell you what you want to hear. You're best off either going with the view of the planner or writing to them and getting a written response.

Who's to say someone else there won't have a different view if a complaint is made? You may never get a definitive answer until it's been before a planning committee.

Davesnave

If you look at the Planning Portal, the only mention of trees etc is, not surprisingly, in the Trees & Hedges section.

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/treeshedges/

As you rightly say, most of this is about protecting trees, not planting them but that's because there are no laws governing the matter of planting. The info given is only advisory and vague:

"Building regulations do not apply to trees and hedges but foundations can be affected by tree roots and soil moisture.
Such matters should be considered when planting/removing trees or building new structures as certain tree species can affect foundations over 20 metres away.

As you can see from the last sentence, trees are not spoken of as structures themselves. Structures must be constructed.

I planted over 70 trees last year and asked no one's permission, because I don't have to. I planted some more this year too.

If my mini woodland became a nuisance to a neighbour by severely blocking light they'd enjoyed in their house for a long time, then I might get into bother, but because there is no house there and the trees are deciduous I'm fine. Even the high hedges legislation wouldn't apply.

Last year there was a longish thread on MSE where a woman was complaining that a neighbour's trees were now blocking the view of the sea she'd paid dearly for. After a lot of waffle, it was generally agreed that there was SFA she could do about it.

As I said, trees are usually viewed as a Good Thing, so if your planting is considerate, no one will be able to stop you growing some. (just avoid poplar & willow!)

cyclonebri1

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

Collaboration is the action of working with someone to produce something.

Not sure you've used the right choice of words there.

So basically you want someone to tell you what you want to hear. You're best off either going with the view of the planner or writing to them and getting a written response.

Who's to say someone else there won't have a different view if a complaint is made? You may never get a definitive answer until it's been before a planning committee.

The last bit I have highlighted is exactly why I've posted the question because as they say "opinions are like ar**h***s, everybody has one"

Suggest you read my signature,:p, corroborate was my intended word but as you point out the intension is to collaborate, ie work with the council and within planning law.

Please don't try to 2nd guess what I'm asking as it can come accross as offensive.
It's very clear what I'm trying to do and that is unearth any written evidence, siding with me or otherwise, that will guide me in my "collaborations"

cyclonebri1

Davesnave wrote: »

If you look at the Planning Portal, the only mention of trees etc is, not surprisingly, in the Trees & Hedges section.

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/treeshedges/

As you rightly say, most of this is about protecting trees, not planting them but that's because there are no laws governing the matter of planting. The info given is only advisory and vague:

"Building regulations do not apply to trees and hedges but foundations can be affected by tree roots and soil moisture.
Such matters should be considered when planting/removing trees or building new structures as certain tree species can affect foundations over 20 metres away.

As you can see from the last sentence, trees are not spoken of as structures themselves. Structures must be constructed.

I planted over 70 trees last year and asked no one's permission, because I don't have to. I planted some more this year too.

If my mini woodland became a nuisance to a neighbour by severely blocking light they'd enjoyed in their house for a long time, then I might get into bother, but because there is no house there and the trees are deciduous I'm fine. Even the high hedges legislation wouldn't apply.

Last year there was a longish thread on MSE where a woman was complaining that a neighbour's trees were now blocking the view of the sea she'd paid dearly for. After a lot of waffle, it was generally agreed that there was SFA she could do about it.

As I said, trees are usually viewed as a Good Thing, so if your planting is considerate, no one will be able to stop you growing some. (just avoid poplar & willow!)

Great post Dave, it is a mini woodland that we are hoping to create and given all the pro wildlife arguments that were thrown at us at the planning stage I find it somewhat ironic that she now does want to see trees. (It was the bat argument rather than great crested newts that they tried to put in our way.)

I'm pretty familiar with all the written regs and guidance and am now even more certain, as I've just indicated to another poster, that nothing in the statutes will jump out and bite later.

As I mentioned earlier this wouldn't be an issue if dealing with more considerate people but when faced with someone who will use any means to prevent our use of the land then I have to ensure that we are 100% legit.

The other thing is of course that she cannot object at this stage to what maybe in 10 years time, ie eventual growth, only what happens today, she's already tried and failed

Silver-Surfer_2

Seems like a meeting of minds. I'll leave you to it.