Chestnut Tree with TPO

[Chris at eden]

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.

 

Have they set a pre-commencement condition that you provide a tree report or has it not been determined yet?

[RobRainford]

You say 'no longer hangs over my house' that's where the issue lies. The tree is currently over the house with a nice form. There will be some allowance for reduction works over the building but taking up to 10' straight off the side of the tree won't look pretty.

 

My advice is that you apply to prune back any branches that grow towards the building, essentially a crown lift, and that maybe some end weight is reduced off longer scaffold limbs over the roof. The council want to keep the shape and chestnut isn't the best at holding back decay so small wounds will not cause detriment to any great effects.