Trees can be both a blessing and a bane for self builders and home improvers. Here, Mike Hardwick reveals how you can assess their impact on your project plans and the best ways to work with them

When they’re at a nice and safe distance, mature trees can add real beauty and character to a plot. But if they’re growing on or even close to the place you want to build your new home or extension, they may well affect your plans. So what can you do to get around the problem of specimens that are in the wrong place? Here’s what you need to know about the implications of trees on site and how to deal with them while keeping on the right side of the law.

Why do trees matter?

I’d hazard a guess that we can all agree on the environmental benefits of retaining trees wherever possible. They can also add value simply by making both house and garden a more pleasant place to spend time.

However, in pure construction terms they can actually have an enormous effect on how and where we can build – and sometimes this impact has to be properly managed.

Surprisingly, trees and hedges themselves do not come under the remit of Building Regulations. The impact of trees on soil conditions, however, will be a factor for your building control officer to consider.

This is especially true in areas that have clay soil – and that’s around 60% of all housing land used to date. British Standard BS5837: 2012 (Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction) is a useful source of guidance.