Council policy on TV reception
Brighton & Hove City Council’s standing policy suggests that trees are rarely maintained for the sake of television or satellite signals.
According to official guidance from the local authority, the council “won’t normally prune or fell a healthy and well-formed tree” simply because it is interfering with reception. This is a common stance across many UK councils, where the health and environmental benefit of a tree is often balanced against the convenience of broadcast signals.
Rights and responsibilities
Under UK common law, residents generally have the right to prune overhanging branches back to their own property boundary, provided the tree is not subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) or located within a conservation area. However, work must be carried out from the resident’s own land unless permission is granted to enter the neighbouring property.
For those facing similar issues, Brighton & Hove City Council provides guidance on common arboriculture issues, noting that reception problems are usually considered a matter for the service provider or a private aerial engineer rather than a reason for significant tree surgery.
If a tree is found to be causing physical damage to a structure, the council may take a different view than if the issue is merely signal obstruction.
Residents in the Brighton area who need to report tree-related emergencies or safety concerns on public land can contact the council’s arboriculture team at arboriculture@brighton-hove.gov.uk.