Harleston father and son’s treehouse saved from being removed by council

James Mack, eight, and his dad Chris, delighted that the council has said they can keep their treehouse in their garden at Harleston. James and Chris on the second floor of the treehouse. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2016)

Chris Mack and his eight-year-old son James feared for the future of the treehouse at their home in The Common, Harleston, after South Norfolk Council had looked into taking enforcement action to have it removed.

Mr Mack, a scaffolder, started building the house three years ago after he split from his wife. It has become a place where he and James could spend time together. 'The amount of time we have spent in there and the fun we have had has been unbelievable,' said Mr Mack. 'I built it just for fun and where me and my son can bond.'

A barn owl box with a camera inside has been built above the treehouse. Mr Mack said he put it up so he and his son can watch if any chicks hatch.

The council believed the wooden structure caused neighbours an 'unacceptable loss of privacy' and had an 'unacceptable impact within the context of location'.

Despite this, nine letters were received by the council from neighbours who did not object to the treehouse.

And at a development management committee yesterday councillors voted against taking action, much to the delight of Mr Mack.

The 35-year-old said: 'I am over the moon. It gets my son outside and off his computer. It is still is not finished, I just want to blend it in so the scaffolding does not show.

'We have never had any complaints from anybody. I put up something on Facebook and have had people commenting from around the world including Australia and America.'

Councillor Joe Mooney commented on the amount of support the treehouse had received and said he did not feel it was intrusive to neighbours.