FOCUS ON
Although beautiful to look at and an asset to many homes, trees can be problematic when it comes to extending or building your own home. Ian Rock advises on what you need to consider
Whether you’re planning to build a new home or extend an existing one, the presence of trees on site can be something of a headache. Even if they’re located well beyond the footprint of the proposed building, they can still be a source of trouble. So it’s important for you to have a clear plan of action to deal with any errant trees, thickets or coppices on site before finalising your design.
THE RISKS
Artists’ impressions depicting prospective developments often feature resplendent ranks of trees that enhance the project’s architectural impact. So where it’s possible to retain leafy arboricultural assets on site they can often be deployed creatively, adding to the building’s appeal and value. On the other side of the coin, trees located in close proximity to buildings can pose a variety of potential threats. Fortunately, the prospect of whole trees crashing down in violent storms is an extremely rare occurrence which can normally be pre-empted by commissioning tree sur veys to highlight any such risks.
Indirect damage is a more common problem. This is where a tree’s natural growth gradually exerts pressure on a building’s foundations, walls and drainage systems over a long period of time. Buildings on shrinkable clay soils are especially vulnerable to subsidence damage, hence the importance of ensuring foundations are designed to accommodate any likely changes to ground conditions.
NEIGHBOUR DISPUTES
As well as posing physical risks, trees have the potential to undermine relationships with neighbours, leading to acrimonious disputes. Legally, a tree belongs to the person whose land it was originally grown on. So if a neighbour’s tree overhangs your garden, you have a right to cut back the branches to the boundary, along with any encroaching roots, subject to the proviso that you could be held liable for damages if this causes the tree to die or become dangerous, or if the tree has legal protection (see below).
PLANNING AND TPOs
Where there’s an existing tree in close proximity to a proposed new house or extension, it can sometimes be cited by the planners as one of the grounds for refusal. So obtaining a report in advance from an arboriculturalist can be invaluable for demonstrating that building work can be done without harming the tree, potentially defusing any such concerns.
Things become a lot more challenging, however, in cases where trees are legally protected by Tree Preser vation Orders (TPOs). These are issued by local planning authorities to pro
