---

Office of the Deputy Prime Minister

Answer

Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action the Government have taken to ameliorate the problem of (a) leylandii and (b) other rapidly growing trees associated with neighbour nuisance. [69575] Mr. McNulty: I have been asked to reply. The Government supported the high hedges Bill introduced last Session by the hon. Member for Solihull (Mr. Taylor). Unfortunately, it fell due to lack of time before the election. Although it has not been possible to bring forward a high hedges Bill in the current Session, we remain committed to legislation allowing local authorities to deal with complaints about high hedges as soon as parliamentary time can be found. In December last year, we published guidelines on "Hedge height and light loss" developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE). The guidelines explain how to calculate whether a hedge is likely to block out too much light from a garden and from the main rooms of a house. These scientifically based tests might carry some weight with hedge owners and help them to understand the impact of their hedge. As a result, they might be more willing to negotiate with neighbours. We are now preparing a leaflet for members of the public, advising them how they might approach their neighbours to try to agree a solution to their hedge problems. The leaflet will include information on a range of factors that people might consider in settling on the right hedge height for their particular circumstances. It will cover such matters as what heights will ensure privacy; those at which a hedge can be safely maintained; and those likely to block light to neighbouring properties. We expect to publish the leaflet later in the summer and will provide copies to all Members of Parliament.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

69575; 389 c141-2W

Session

2001-02

Subjects

Hedges and ditches Nuisance Trees

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk