2 storey extension with TPO

[Ravii]

Warm greetings to everyone.

I need some advice/guidance from one and all.

I am about to purchase a detached house which has many trees on one side and one of the trees happens to have a TPO (Ash Tree) on it.

Planning Map

• Ravii
• 25 Jun 2021

There is a uniform space of 4.5m between the building/property exterior wall and the fence behind which all the trees are located.

Space between fence and external wall

• Ravii
• 25 Jun 2021

It has been 20-25 years since the property was built but the seller never trimmed/maintained the TPO tree or others (no application made to council), so I am unsure of the state of those trees but they are dense.

My dream is to build a 2 storey extension (using screw piles or equivalent avoiding any damage to the ground beneath and also willing to avoid concrete base) running the length of the house giving me an internal floor space of 9.5m x 2.5m. So exterior will be slightly bigger. So I have approached a Tree Consultant to produce a report but would like to know if such a planning application stands a chance of being approved.

There are no houses to the side where I plan to extend but contains a green house.

Green House

• Ravii
• 25 Jun 2021

Can someone please advice if there is scope for this side extension and how to reason this with the council?

Thank you all.

 

[wessex101]

Hard to say. It looks like the extension will be close to the tree. At the very least you would need to submit a Tree Report with the planning application. The arboricultural consultant might say the extension can be built without damaging the tree's root system but I have seen applications refused for exactly this sort of thing.

Ask your consultant for an "honest" opinion on your chances as he should know the local council's track record.

 

[Ravii]

I have seen some forums where few have built close to a TPO tree using screw piles but haven't seen a 2 storey extension which is worrisome for me. I need bedroom space more than living room space and don't mind building on stilts for load bearing constraints, if required. I am simply not able to get a definitive answer so that I can be mentally prepared, alas!

 

[wessex101]

The height of the extension is irrelevant unless it is so tall it will shade the tree or come into contact with tree branches. It is the footprint of the building and the disturbance of the ground that is the main factor. Both physical damage to the tree roots which piles will reduce but also drying out the sub-soil below the extension and compaction of the soil near to the tree which will damage the roots and deprive the tree of water.

Only your consultant can advise you. Don't just get a standard tree report, tell them you want an honest and candid opinion on your likelihood of getting planning approval. Obviously they will not guarantee you will get planning approval but they should be able to say if its reasonably likely, 50/50 or maybe no chance so don't even bother.

 

[Ravii]

The height of the extension is irrelevant unless it is so tall it will shade the tree or come into contact with tree branches. It is the footprint of the building and the disturbance of the ground that is the main factor. Both physical damage to the tree roots which piles will reduce but also drying out the sub-soil below the extension and compaction of the soil near to the tree which will damage the roots and deprive the tree of water.

Only your consultant can advise you. Don't just get a standard tree report, tell them you want an honest and candid opinion on your likelihood of getting planning approval. Obviously they will not guarantee you will get planning approval but they should be able to say if its reasonably likely, 50/50 or maybe no chance so don't even bother.

Thank you so much for this advice. I will ask the Tree Consultant and see what they say and also update my progress here so that others in similar situation are aware.

 

[jacko555]

Someone I know had a tpo lifted as it was damaging the house.
I wonder if maybe this is an angle?

 

[Ravii]

Someone I know had a tpo lifted as it was damaging the house.
I wonder if maybe this is an angle?

The tree is easily 15/16ft away from the house and I couldnt see any lean or branches towards the house. I will wait to see what the Tree surgeon's report suggests

 

[lostinthelight]

You may not have a tree there in a few years if it gets Ash die back and needs felling.

 

[Notch7]

Why would an Ash tree get a TPO?

They are just weeds that grow everywhere.

 

[Ravii]

@lostinthelight and @Notch7 agree with both of you. I have my fingers crossed that the Tree Consultant finds some problem with this Ash tree (Ash dieback or causing damage to the building, etc.) and we are able to get a felling order on it. But for now, I am trying not to be optimistic so that if I hear the worst news, then I don't feel terrible...