Tree Preservation Order / Conservation areas

[NickXX]

Hi all,

I've had an offer accepted on a house in North London which is in a Conservation Area, and there is a Tree within the Boundary which has a TPO (having looked at the TPO register for the borough and planning permission apps). The current owners have done very little work to the garden in the last 6 years or so, and haven't done anything with this tree at all.

I'm not sure what sort of tree it is (I've attached a photo), but it's huge and ideally needs pruning back a lot as the branches are very close to the house. It's about 10m from the house, but on a raised bank. So although the roots shouldn't be an issue for the house, there is a retaining wall at root level. Effectively the base of the tree sits on a bank about 2m higher than the base of the house, and about 10m from it.

I've attached a Streetview photo of a similar tree nearby to identify the type just in case anyone knows what it is. My worry is that I won't be able to touch it at all - it shades a lot of the garden, and I'm guessing won't be great for the retaining wall if it's left to its own devices.

Has anyone had any experience of trimming a big tree back with a TPO before? I know that I'll have to apply to do this, and get a tree surgeon to do it, but is it a possibility that I won't be able to do this?

Thanks,
Nick

[Stephanie Plum]

Difficult to tell what it is - can you take a pic of the leaves. With a well worded application you should be able to get permission to crown it regardless of what it is. If it isn't indigenous they may let you fell it. Get a tree surgeon known to the council in to look at it. We had permission to take 10 trees down (sycamores and holly) and an oak, beech and hornbeam reduced and crowned when people told us we didn't stand a chance. All covered by a blanket TPO.

[terry tibbs]

you can just make an application (free) either using the form on the council's web site or via the planning portal

explain what you want to do, often councils produce leaflets explaining tree work

http://www.trees.org.uk/ have people who can help and leaflets.

The council will often visit and discuss the issue with you if the tree officer hasn't be lost due to austerity

if the application fails you can appeal which is free

[NickXX]

Brilliant- thanks guys. Will be getting a surveyor to check the state of the wall, and will get in touch with the council. Sounds promising though.

[30v]

Generally, you can prune branches up to 50mm diameter on a TPO's tree without making a Tree Management application. Anything more drastic and you'll need your tree surgeon to apply to the planning authority for a Tree Management Application. Check with your Local Authority Tree Officer first though - some are more lenient than others.

[PositronicRay]

We have a TPO on a huge ash in the back garden.

Apply for planning permission to prune online, attach hand drawn plan and photos, ours allowed 30% crown reduction.

It seems to depend on the mood of the local Arboricultural officer. We had one application refused (our tree was regarded as local amenity apparently) even though no officer attended. Subsequent applications were seemingly "rubber stamped"

Any trouble get the local tree surgeon on your side, chances are they'll know the Arboricultural Officer.

[terry tibbs]

30v said:

Generally, you can prune branches up to 50mm diameter on a TPO's tree without making a Tree Management application. Anything more drastic and you'll need your tree surgeon to apply to the planning authority for a Tree Management Application. Check with your Local Authority Tree Officer first though - some are more lenient than others.

really mmmmm i don't think so