Distance a Tree Can be safely growing to a house

[doobin]

49 minutes ago, Dan27 said:

 

I am not happy as to how close the tree is too my house and the possible future ramifications it could possibly pose. 

 

This tree isn't 100's of years old. I assume it was planted by the original land owner about 50-60 years ago. 

 

There are pics on Google earth that shows on 1990 the whole area was woodland and you can't identify any one tree. 

 

The next picture is in 2003 and the tree then is much, much smaller than what it is now. 

 

The tree can not be seen from the main road and is only visible to a very small number of people. There are a maximum of 10 houses (including mine) that can possibly see it - although I am unsure this has any influence on the decision of the council tree officer. 

 

 

 

This always happens on these threads- the true motivation slips out.. Seems to me you just want the tree out and see your son's allergy as a convenient heart-wrencher. My advice? Don't buy a rabbit hutch with a big tree next to it unless you like trees.

[Pete Mctree]

Oh the joys of social media, where a window cleaner google searching on his phone (probably sat on the throne) offers critical advice alongside qualified and very experienced arborist. If I was the tree owner reading this I would be very wary of the provenance of some of the information put your way. Find a good consultant and get some honest & specific advice, not what some bloke on a forum found on a quick google search !

[Joe Newton]

1 hour ago, Scottish Cleaning Service said:

I just look up the facts on Goggle and I guess sometimes its wrong. Its always the same when I go on a forum. I'm ridiculed then I'm violently opposed and then I'm accepted as self-evident. I actually enjoy it because it gives me the motivation to build a business. My window cleaning business is thriving but I have always liked gardening so being a tree surgeon is my next step. 😉

So you've been on a few forums and been met with a similar reaction? That sounds like textbook troll behaviour. 

 

Have you given any thought as to what the common denominator is?

[Chris at eden]

15 hours ago, Scottish Cleaning Service said:

Trees like that are okay in the countryside but a nightmare in housing estates.

They don't have the same environmental benefits in the countryside in terms of removing PM10 pollution, mitigating flood risk, reducing the urban heat island effect, reducing energy bills and thus carbon emissions, etc.  Trees are a material consideration within the planning system so LPAs are legally required to consider their retention and planting.        

15 hours ago, Scottish Cleaning Service said:

It must have all came down to greed for money then.

Of course it does.  Builders don't build houses for the fun of it.  I'm guessing you also charge people to clean their windows.    

15 hours ago, Scottish Cleaning Service said:

The landowner or house next door that wants to sell off their bit of garden knows that if they build a house or get planning permission then the land is worth ten times as much.

It doesn't increase by that much if its was a garden to start with as it is already designated as residential.  if you get planning on an area of green belt or agricultural land then maybe, but not a garden in fill.     

15 hours ago, Scottish Cleaning Service said:

Folk are desperate for a house and buy it without thinking about the massive tree. Years later its their problem and the seller has ran off with the money, sad really.

This i agree with, but that is down to the buyer really.  Loads of people buy houses with TPO trees thinking they can bully the tree officer in to letting them fell it.  Not saying that the OP did this but it does happen all the time.  

 

[Chris at eden]

15 hours ago, Dan27 said:

Thank you for your response. 

I do feel that I need to approach it from more than just the one angle. 

What is an amenity assessment? 

 

The tree is in my garden. 

My house is one of 10 on the road and I am at the end of the cul de sac. 

 

This tree can not be seen by the main road and other than 2 houses other houses of the 10 - the other house can only see the part of the tree that is above my roof. Ie - that can see the top 20-30ft.

LPAs are meant to assess the amenity value of the trees before confirming the TPO.  There are two legal tests they should meet:

• The amenity test.  Basically that the tree has good amenity value.  I.e.  That it looks nice, and in most cases is visible from a public area.  If you cant see it from a public area then it doesn't have visual amenity, or at least it is diminished.  There is a comment in the guidance that says you can TPO trees with low visibility in special circumstances. 
• The expediency test.  That the tree is under threat.  In this case it is as you want to fell it.  

Most LPAs use a system called TEMPO for their amenity assessments these days as it is easy and its a quantified system.  Some write a report to support the TPO explaining why it was made.  these then go out with the TPO and Reg 5 notice.  When working as a TO i always did both as it provides a quantitative assessment which you can then base a qualitative report on so you cover all the bases.  

 

If you were looking to get the tree removed you would include this as part of the case to show you have thought about the situation in detail.  It may of course come back saying that the amenity value is high but based on your comments re visibility it may not.  The TO will almost certainly refuse the app so you would need to go to appeal most likely.  Its impossible to say what the chances are without seeing it.  

       

[Dan27]

1 hour ago, doobin said:

This always happens on these threads- the true motivation slips out.. Seems to me you just want the tree out and see your son's allergy as a convenient heart-wrencher. My advice? Don't buy a rabbit hutch with a big tree next to it unless you like trees.

The concern about the tree blowing over has come from the comments on this forum. 

 

I didn't have it before but when someone says it's a potential death trap - I listen. 

 

 

[Tommy_B]

Every tree is a potential death trap. They're organic and can fail. Doesn't mean they all need to come down. 

[Chris at eden]

15 hours ago, Scottish Cleaning Service said:

I'm a joiner to trade and before I joined the Fire Service I worked with Balfour Beatty as a shuttering joiner so did all the foundations for buildings. As for tree knowledge I watched a documentary on the life cycle of an oak tree. As someone said the roots are not that deep bar the centre tap root.

Trees don't have tap roots.

15 hours ago, Scottish Cleaning Service said:

The roots will stretch out as far as the branches do so its not rocket science.

In most cases they will stretch further than the branches but will also be restricted by site conditions such as building foundations and engineered highways.  It isn't rocket science but there is a lot more to it than you are making out.  Your comments are extremely misleading and not helpful to the OP.  Although i am guessing that he is now discounting most of what you have said.  I don't mean to be rude but your comments are frankly ridiculous.  I have been doing this for over 30 years, have numerous qualifications up to degree level, and do 30 hours CPD a year to maintain my professional memberships, and yet you are dismissing my professional opinion (and that of others) based on a documentary you watched!  Really?        

15 hours ago, Scottish Cleaning Service said:

If the branches are touching the window then the roots are under the house.

Not likely, i have explained why already.  

15 hours ago, Scottish Cleaning Service said:

When you build a building the first thing you do is scrape away all the 2 foot layer of topsoil

Not if you have a planning condition that states that you cant.  Not if you have a set of plans showing existing and proposed levels that has been conditioned.  Not if you have a condition saying that foundations shall be installed under arboricultural supervision.  

15 hours ago, Scottish Cleaning Service said:

and put it in a pile so if the roots were in it then they will be gone.

I'm not convinced you know what a pile is or how it is installed.  Pile and beam is a specialist method that can be used to install foundations while minimizing damage to roots.  Not by a standard spec though.       

15 hours ago, Scottish Cleaning Service said:

The builder isn't interested in the tree roots,

No, but they are interested in breach of condition or stop notices that can be issued by the LPA if they don't play ball.  They also tend to be interested in unlimited fines and criminal records that come with TPO contravention.      

15 hours ago, Scottish Cleaning Service said:

all they want to do is get the house up and be paid.

Agreed - but not if they have to pay out all their profits in fines.  All i want to do is write tree reports and get paid, doesn't mean i am going to break the law to o it.   

15 hours ago, Scottish Cleaning Service said:

As I look at the house all I see is a death trap because if it falls on the house we are talking 10 tons or more of wood going through it. I wouldn't be able to sleep in that house with a hundred foot tree beside it. fwiw 

There is absolutely no way you can assess the risk from that tree by looking at a photo.  Again, you are just worrying and already worried tree owner.  The risk from trees is extremely small but you are buying into all the nonsense that you have read on the internet.   Statistically over the years falling trees kill between 5 and 6 people annually, compared to almost 2,000 in road traffic accidents.  But we don't consider driving to be dangerous.  Of course the risk can increase if the tree is defective (as it can if cars are defective) but the only way to find that out is to inspect it in person on site (or MOT the car).    

 

   

[Chris at eden]

14 hours ago, kevinjohnsonmbe said:

I’m not sure it is harsh Chris.  The 90’s is 30 years ago. 
 

I want to add a very current, relevant and brilliantly funny back story but it’ll have to wait a little while. 
 

Haven’t seen you posting for ages Chris. 
 

Hope all well and happy New Year an all that. 
 

👍🏻

 

 

Been really busy mate.  Consultancy work has been flat out this last year.  All good here mate, hope you are well and look forward to the story. 

 

cheers 

 

Chris  

[Khriss]

Come on Kev ! I'm waiting for this ! K