Buying first house: Tree Preservation Order

henrygregory

Fuzzyness wrote: »

it could be a group TPO where all trees within the green area are protected, rather than each individual tree.

Right ok, that sounds like a sensible possible outcome. In that case, the tree in question is not within the green blob. It would be above it.

ChasingButterflies

You could try contacting the tree works officer at the relevant council to see if they have a TPO.

If they do, permission will be needed to carry out any works, crown lifting, Topping etc. Our council does not charge (as yet!) for tree works permission.

Personally I would pace out how many meters the trunk is from the property and then check out the "assumptions" of various buildings insurance companies (there is usually a set distance they don't like trees within) It could make cover difficult/more expensive to obtain.

henrygregory

ChasingButterflies wrote: »

You could try contacting the tree works officer at the relevant council to see if they have a TPO.

If they do, permission will be needed to carry out any works, crown lifting, Topping etc. Our council does not charge (as yet!) for tree works permission.

Personally I would pace out how many meters the trunk is from the property and then check out the "assumptions" of various buildings insurance companies (there is usually a set distance they don't like trees within) It could make cover difficult/more expensive to obtain.

Thanks, good suggestion. I am looking the officer up now to see if I can get any advice.

kinger101

henrygregory wrote: »

I had noticed that. Apparently, you can get machines which suck them up.

I have one oak in my garden, and another one overhangs. I still spet 8 hours one weekend clearing them with a leaf blower. It's nice to have the trees (for the wildlife) but the clean-up isn't a trivial job. Gutters need clearing annually as well.

daveyjp

The tree is outside the boundary on purpose. It means you never have responsibility for it, so even if it isn't TPO'd you can't legally touch it.

Quite often if trees are within the boundary of a new build the first job by the owner is to chop the tree down. This way gives protection for the tree without a TPO.

glasgowdan

I don't understand why you're even talking about TPOs when the house you're buying doesn't have any trees.

I wouldn't be put off by those two trees. They are on the north side of the garden and not blocking out direct sunlight, though they will of course reduce daylight levels in the windows. They certainly break up the view of brick walls behind you.

The TPO document shows a blanket TPO area. This means if you plant new trees they will be protected too.

teddysmum

ChasingButterflies wrote: »

Personally I would pace out how many meters the trunk is from the property and then check out the "assumptions" of various buildings insurance companies (there is usually a set distance they don't like trees within) It could make cover difficult/more expensive to obtain.

Tree roots typically have an underground radius of three times the tree's height, so go quite a distance from the tree. The RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) says that oak trees have the highest incidence of causing subsidence, because of root encroachment, in the UK.

glasgowdan

teddysmum wrote: »

Tree roots typically have an underground radius of three times the tree's height, so go quite a distance from the tree. The RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) says that oak trees have the highest incidence of causing subsidence, because of root encroachment, in the UK.

Yes, but only roots closer to the tree are strong enough to cause a problem, not those thread roots 3x the height of the tree away

daveyjp

Those aren't oak trees.

Tree roots aren't as substantial as often made out. Look at photos of large trees which have been blown over, the main root ball is small compared to the size of the tree.

teddysmum

What is the huge white box next door ? It isn't an aircon unit , which would be rather noisy ?