Chestnut Tree with TPO

[faulkds]

Hi,

 

I've a Chestnut Tree with a TPO which is approx. 2 meters away from my house.

 

Have a planning application for a roof conversion but part of the approval is I need to confirm that the tree won't be affected by my development.

 

Have had the council out but they won't allow me to prune the tree approx. 3 meters as this will ruin the appearance or may kill the tree. I need to trim it back as far as possible so that the tree nolonger hangs over my house. Have had a tree surgeon look at the tree and they can't see why this would be an issue.

 

Please advise on whether the council is right.

[kevinjohnsonmbe]

It seems from your description that the tree might be in your ownership - is that right?

 

Has your planning application already been submitted?

 

What sort of "roof conversion" is it? Are you increasing the current height?

[scotspine1]

the growth/leaf coverage in the 2nd pic looks dense even for an HC, has the tree been previously pollarded (cut back/topped) in recent years? Do you have a picture of this tree when not in leaf? Reason I ask is that if it's been pruned before then why are the council so resistant to trimming back a few branches, branches which are possibly weakly attached at the main trunk.

[defenderjack]

That tree could easily be pruned back without ruining its appearance , hell you could Pollard it and bet my life it would be ball of green and epicormic next year (not saying that you should though) just saying can't see no reason why a gentle reduction away from the property isn't possible ??

[Kveldssanger]

  defenderjack said:

That tree could easily be pruned back without ruining its appearance , hell you could Pollard it and bet my life it would be ball of green and epicormic next year (not saying that you should though) just saying can't see no reason why a gentle reduction away from the property isn't possible ??

 

You could pollard it, but chances are you'd get some sweet decay columns forming.

[defenderjack]

  Kveldssanger said:

You could pollard it, but chances are you'd get some sweet decay columns forming.

 

I agree .... Like I said it's not some thing I would do to that tree .. But I do think half the time we end up faffing around making things look pretty for such a short lived result ! ..

[Kveldssanger]

  defenderjack said:

I agree .... Like I said it's not some thing I would do to that tree .. But I do think half the time we end up faffing around making things look pretty for such a short lived result ! ..

 

You talk as if we don't prune sympathetically for the benefit of the tree. A tree is indeed a living being.

[Mick Dempsey]

Cannot see why it can't be trimmed back, I reckon it's been done before anyway.

[Chris at eden]

  defenderjack said:

I agree .... Like I said it's not some thing I would do to that tree .. But I do think half the time we end up faffing around making things look pretty for such a short lived result ! ..

 

Look pretty is kind of the point of TPOs, or to use the correct term visual amenity. The LPA wont allow you to hammer the tree just so you can reduce the pruning cycle. Nor would the planning inspectorate on appeal. Just the way it is.

[Chris at eden]

  kevinjohnsonmbe said:

 

What sort of "roof conversion" is it? Are you increasing the current height?

 

I would imagine that is why they need planning, otherwise it would make sense to stay within PD.