Are sycamores definitely covered in a conservation area?

[Looseleaf]

Hi

I would ordinarily hate to cut down a grown tree but ours is so messy and sheds sticky stuff everywhere stopping the children from using our London garden much except when i'be just power hosed!

We now want to build an extension and its roots will be in the way.

Do we stand any chance of getting rid of it and planting something nicer and further from the house?
Our neighbours upstairs are all quite understanding as we mentioned wanting to eventually if they didn't object, though like us they like the greenery.

Thanks if anyone has any experience!

I think you have to give notice to the local authority if you want to do work to or cut down a tree in a conservation area. That's if there isn't a TPO on it. Have a chat with the conservation officer. It may be that planting a suitable replacement elsewhere on your property is made a planning condition of the permission granted for the extension.

All trees over 6cm diameter at 1.5m height are protected in a conservation area. It doesn't matter about individual tpo in a conservation area.

That doesn't mean that you can't take the tree out but you will need consent from the local authority. Ask if they have a tree officer to meet with you, otherwise speak to the conservation officer.

It won't necessarily have a Tree Preservation Order on it. You will need permission to get rid as it's a conservation area - but you'll need permission for the extension as well.

The only way you will find out is to ask. Annoyingly our local conservation officer will no longer have chats and all requests have to be in writing, grrr.

When I moved into my house I wanted to get rid of 2 trees near the house - one was a Leylandii so was clearly not going to be a problem, another was a normal tree (can't remember what) but badly pruned in the past so looked ugly.

I got a tree surgeon to sort the whole thing out, both trees now gone and I have a lovely garden.

Thank you. I wonder what our chances are.
Has anyone been given permission by their local council? Or presumably this could stall our plans completely. our DC are going to grow out of wanting to share a bedroom so we hoped to add another one!

Ah that's encouraging kundry. Thank you.

I've looked on the council's planning and some sycamores have been given permission to be felled and one or two not (as healthy and add value to the surrounding conservation area).
i have feeling we won't get permission but will apply and see

Yes, we got permission. Absolutely identical scenario to yours. As far as I know, the only way they can refuse is by sticking a tpo on the tree. I'm very surprised they refused in other cases - sycamores are the weeds of the garden tree world! - but I guess very fine egs might qualify for a tpo. We argued on the basis that it had low amenity value, the roots were too close to our foundations, and its size was totally out of proportion to our smallish urban garden.

Forgot to say - you can't have them cut down if there are nesting birds present.

Hopefully if you put in your application soon, any birds would have left by the time you come to do the work. However a neighbour got stuck waiting for the birds to leave before she could have her trees done.

We don't have any nests ever luckily!

Please can you advise on best tactic to be listened to?

I can try low amenity value (I hope? As sycamores strike me as a bad choice in an urban garden!) , the fact we would gladly replace with another more sensible tree (not fussy what).
Is it worth mentioning the excessive mess and shade? The tree looks exceedingly healthy and strong so no other good grounds I can think of.

Would you mention our hope to build an extension this year or do that separately?

Thank you all as your help is amazing

I got a tree surgeon round first and they knew straight away what the chances of success were - they had dones it zillions of times so I left the permissions etc to them so no idea what they said. I didn't replace with another tree.

Neighbour did her own to have some Leylandii topped which now look even worse and am sure she talked about light.

No idea if you should mention the extension or do the 2 things separately.

You're amazing Kundry, thank you so much as helping greatly ! I will start with a visit from a tree surgeon in that case and ask their thoughts!