Direct Line has withdrawn plans to remove six mature trees in Fareham, Hampshire, which it had previously linked to subsidence at a nearby bungalow, according to a report from the BBC.
In December, Fareham Borough Council agreed to lift tree preservation orders (TPOs) on oaks and a lime located between Heath Lawns and Southmead Road. The decision followed a claim by Direct Line that the trees were contributing to structural damage at an insured property. One tree was felled in March but the remaining six remain in place.
Following further assessment, Direct Line has said it will now install a root barrier around the affected home, an option it had earlier considered unfeasible due to the perceived need to extend it across neighbouring gardens. The revised plan confines the barrier to the perimeter of the policyholders’ property, the report said.
Local resident Dean Scopes, who raised the issue with MP Suella Braverman (pictured above), welcomed the development. “The protection of our trees goes on, but we must celebrate these small wins when we get them,” the report quoted Scopes as saying.
The council had previously reported cracking in two homes, likely due to soil shrinkage caused by nearby tree roots. It stated it could face more than £225,000 in future liability if it declined to lift the TPOs and further damage occurred, according to the report.
Braverman, MP for Fareham and Waterlooville, has criticised what she described as pressure from insurers on local authorities. “Insurance companies have pressured local authorities into felling perfectly healthy trees with Tree Preservation Orders at the first point of contact,” she said.
Tree-related subsidence can occur when roots draw moisture from clay soils, causing shrinkage and movement in foundations. However, such cases depend on several factors, including soil type, weather patterns, tree species, and the condition of a building’s foundations. In some instances, alternative causes such as drainage issues may be responsible. Mitigation options can include pruning, root barriers, or soil management.
In a letter to Scopes, Direct Line said it considers non-removal options where possible, though felling can be more cost-effective and help manage insurance costs.
The Association of British Insurers stated that tree removal is not its default approach and that less invasive solutions should be explored where feasible, BBC reported.
