Sycamore tree - to buy or not to buy house?

[Takeoutyourhen]

Established Sycamore at rear of garden - TPO dating from 1975.
House would otherwise appear to meet our needs BUT…

• in a west-facing garden, I’m concerned about light
• sticky sap - just on stuff underneath it or further afield like the whole garden…drying laundry, furniture?
• leaves and bark - okay, currently got a palm which sheds like billy-o but still got to think about it
• helicopter seedlings and saplings appearing everywhere- I’d love to get flower beds established
• storms and breakages, weaknesses
• the very fact it has a TPO led me to look up last approved works which were few and far between, some conditionally approved and refused which tells me looking after it is a pain in the bum and the costs are still ours.

Hmm, might have just told myself the likely cons but if anyone has any experience of such a tree in their garden, please do let me know! TY

I think woodland may be different from a tree in the garden. There are many TPO trees in my area too and I do see quite a few getting trimmed.

There's a sycamore in the next garden - magnificent tree , the only problem is the seedlings. I pay my kids 5p a seedling to pick them out every spring. (Usually comes to about 15 pounds)

The garden needs to be viewed in daylight.

Can't see if you've said how far it is from the house?

I had a sweet chestnut with a tpo on it.... main issue is light loss, storm damage and leaves/seeds (blocks guttering) tree was 20m from house.

But on a hot day, offered lovely shade, i had no issues with it, hope its still there.

It was very rural, TPO put on when barn got pp for conversion.

Mature trees don't need mtce as such, Sycamores reach maturity and just, well stay there.

I did laugh at the Sycamores are "regarded as nuisance trees"

I’ve had a look at our city council public planning regarding historic applications for work and it does sound like someone in charge is a bit of a stickler for refusing work.

Husband went as I couldn’t go in the end and the agent informed him about the TPO (he did wonder whether it would be mentioned) however the agent said that regular pruning is not something you have to apply for. This isn’t true according to the very plain information on the council website about TPO trees - no pruning whatsoever without consent or risk a £20K fine so maybe the agent was trying to sugar coat it or perhaps they don’t know. Either way, I’m aware it’s misinformation, or potentially disinformation as we know estate agents like to get the ball rolling on a sale!

And yes, daylight would have been preferable. Have done a daylight walk to the property and had a good look around and it is simply a gargantuan tree. House would need some TLC but overall the tree has put us off.

Currently have a palm which sheds fibrous palm leaves during heavy rain or wind so not adverse to clearing them up however they do not germinate where they land or block guttering which makes maintaining flower beds a breeze.
Thanks for all your input!

But they have previously allowed branch removal and crown lifting based on your previous posts? The work turned down was work which could be harmful to the tree.

Honestly the only way to clarify is to talk to the actual tree officer(s). They will generally be quite clear on what kind of maintenance is appropriate and what would be considered damaging.

You are correct in your caution over the estate agent. Removing dead wood is generally fine but otherwise work with a local tree surgeon and the office - it makes for a much more productive relationship.

Gargantuan sycamore tree with TPO on i? I’d certainly be running a mile.

No permission required for regular pruning? EAs are full of BS. I wouldn’t trust another word they say.

I have a large sycamore at the end of my garden, along with other large trees. It doesn’t have a TPO but I’m in a conservation area so need approval from the council to touch it. They all get crown reduced every three years. Yes it is an expense but I am all for them because of the benefits and the wildlife I get visiting the garden. I don’t get the helicopter seeds every year but I hand pull them, usually listening to a podcast. Takes an hour or so once a year. The sap isn’t a problem but my council allow lower branches to be reduced. It possibly depends on the size of the garden how much shade, sap and seedlings affect you.

If you love the house it might be worth while having a chat with the tree officer at the council. Having a good relationship with them is really helpful and they might give you a bit more insight as to why they are refusing certain works and so on.

You need to work out where the sun is from dawn to dusk. Our large TPO tree hides the sun in most of it's arc, so the garden is very shady and dry. If it's not in the way of the sun it should be fine. You need to view on a sunny day, morning and dusk, and see if the sun is behind the branches, it will create total shade once the leaves grow.
Technically you can't prune it.
Leaves obviously can't be avoided in autumn, but it's great exercise!