§ Mr. ChopeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what the terms of reference given to the Building Research Establishment and Tree Advice Trust are to develop an objective way of assessing the obstruction of light by hedges; when the report will be completed; and when it will be published. [158469]
Mr. Robert AinsworthThe Building Research Establishment (BRE) and Tree Advice Trust have been asked to produce guidance on the impact of evergreen hedges on daylight and sunlight to buildings, and loss of sunlight to gardens; and to devise a in method for calculating what height a hedge needs to be in order to alleviate any obstruction of light.
Draft guidelines, including the proposed procedure for calculating hedge height, have recently been issued by BRE for limited consultation. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House. These guidelines will be tested against a sample of problem hedges, and will be refined—