Tree preservation orders FAQs
Click a question to reveal the answer.
Q: Why does the council protect trees?
Q: It is my tree, why can't I do what I like with it?
Q: My tree is protected - does this mean I can't do anything to it?
Q: My neighbour's tree is too big - what can I do?
Q: What can I do if a tree infringes my "right to light"?
Answer:
You may have a right to light but it's not as simple as you may think. Only a building has a right to light - and only then if it has 'enjoyed' that light uninterrupted for at least 25 years. There is no right to light in a garden. The light to which you are entitled is only a basic minimum. A good guide is that if you can sit near a window and read a newspaper on a cloudy day, then you have the light to which you are entitled. There is no right to have the sunshine through a window. The law is not clear on how trees affect a right to light because they grow over a period of time, they are not completely solid and most trees drop their leaves in winter.
Q: How do I apply for permission to carry out works to a Tree with a TPO?
