TPO black Poplars, Conservation Area, - England - Advice please

[BPop]

Hi All, hope this is the right place for the post

My wife and I are currently looking at potentially buying a house, it ticks all the boxes but has some very large trees (6-8 of them) relatively close to the house (between 10m and 15m distance). They are black poplars (Understood to be pretty rare in the UK).

The trees are beautiful, add to the village aesthetic (conservation area) and appear healthy from my limited knowledge - but the thought of one falling in the future and crushing the house / one of our family has us wondering on whether to pass up on the house.
 

I should also add the Trees aren't on our potential plot - They are roadside, and owned between the council, and a land management company.

Pics attached - https://imageshack.com/i/pnPIt2ABj
 

I guess my question is:
- should we be worried - are they too close?

-Would the trees be able to be reduced in size / topped?

-Would the cost of potentially 8 trees serviced after topping, add up to a costly hidden amount over the years?
-And as a forum with a lot of knowledge, would it put you off buying?

[Steve Bullman]

They don’t look like they’ve been touched before. They’ll shoot like hell after being topped so you’ll be looking at constant management from there on.

 

also unlikely they are black poplar, more likely hybrid blacks which are common as muck. Unless they have been positively id’s as true black poplar?

[Mick Dempsey]

It would be an ongoing issue in all scenarios.

 

Would it put me off buying? Possibly.
It should certainly be in the conversation when negotiating.

[Stubby]

Does the prevailing wind tend to push then toward or away from the house ?

[peds]

13 hours ago, BPop said:

 

-Would the cost of potentially 8 trees serviced after topping, add up to a costly hidden amount over the years?
 

 

No. It wouldn't be hidden at all.

[AA Teccie (Paul)]

Whilst you will get a variation of views here, all valid, I would consider commissioning a "find out more" tree survey from a suitably qualified arboriculturist (often not a tree surgeon, respectfully) - or paying for a couple of hours of their time to discuss the trees and your concerns with them.

The questions you ask are pertinent and well worth exploring further before making a decision - perhaps also speak with the Local Authority Tree Officer (if there is one.)

[BPop]

9 hours ago, Steve Bullman said:

They don’t look like they’ve been touched before. They’ll shoot like hell after being topped so you’ll be looking at constant management from there on.

 

also unlikely they are black poplar, more likely hybrid blacks which are common as muck. Unless they have been positively id’s as true black poplar?

Thanks for the reply - They're on the TPO list as Black poplars (were identified back in 1989 though).
I was worried they'd start coming up on the lawn constantly - what a shame! If the house was just a little further away from them it wouldn't put me off, but the trunk size is huuuge!

I'm guessing some of these could be 200+ years? (pretty sure you have to replant if one falls)
 

[BPop]

3 hours ago, Mick Dempsey said:

It would be an ongoing issue in all scenarios.

 

Would it put me off buying? Possibly.
It should certainly be in the conversation when negotiating.

Thanks for the reply - I think I'm edging towards them putting me off unfortunately 

[BPop]

24 minutes ago, AA Teccie (Paul) said:

Whilst you will get a variation of views here, all valid, I would consider commissioning a "find out more" tree survey from a suitably qualified arboriculturist (often not a tree surgeon, respectfully) - or paying for a couple of hours of their time to discuss the trees and your concerns with them.

The questions you ask are pertinent and well worth exploring further before making a decision - perhaps also speak with the Local Authority Tree Officer (if there is one.)

I think that will be our next step, I just thought I'd run past you guys first to see if that was worth it, and not an instant no

[BPop]

2 hours ago, Stubby said:

Does the prevailing wind tend to push then toward or away from the house ?

Its quite open land (in Lincolnshire) so I'd need to check that