Building Near Trees

The four million trees in Redditch Borough, formally in the Feckenham Forest, affect the proposals for many of the projects in the area. The tables which you can use to determine foundation depths in relation to trees are produced from B.S. 8103:1:1995 by The Zurich Insurance Company – Building Guarantees, the insurers for the Redditch Borough Council. These standards are applied by all Local Authorities throughout Hereford and Worcester.

Relevant extracts from “Solid foundation” the Zurich Building Guarantees Technical Manual (which can be purchased for approx £30) can be found in the related documents section of this page.

Proposals will not be accepted as meeting the relevant requirements of Building Regulation A1 if these standards are not followed or an alternative approach provided which can be accepted as meeting the relevant requirements and is supported by an indemnity or suitably qualified expert.

My Building Control Surveyors would be happy to provide any guidance on its application if requested.

The guidance notes include the problems and solutions for most of the projects. As the soil investigation reports in Redditch Borough Council almost always indicate medium shrinkability clay, it has been accepted that medium is the design input unless an investigation for the site has been carried out, rather than high which is the guidance for unknown.

A structural engineer's design is normally acepted and of benefit, particularly where the engineer can identify a smaller species of tree than the main category and can identify an urban situation, noting that most of Redditch projects are near an open space or woodland.

Other guides are available, but the engineer will be aware that it appears that tree heights are given for urban areas and the alternative guides may only cover a ten year warranty for that project and that insurer inspecting. The latent defects period for designers, builders and appropriate bodies under the Limitation Act 1980 as amended by the Latent Damage Act 1986 is fifteen years from completion of the project.

Related Documents

Zurich Technical Manual  (2.26 MB)