Skip to content
PlanIndex Get alerts
Menu

Planning application

Magnolia House Friars Green Exeter EX2 4DB

Granted Exeter 24/1452/CAT Works to Trees in a Conservation Area

Works: Trees

Permission granted. Work must normally begin within three years of the decision or the permission lapses.

Proposal

Two magnolia trees to be subject to work. Viewed facing the front of the house the trees are at the extreme left and right ends of the facade. Each tree stands no more than 500mm from the wall of the house. Both trees have been subject to crown reduction previously permitted 1/3/2016. 1. Tree number 1 to the left, at the SW corner of the house, to be reduced again exactly as before, removing up to 4m from branches and lowering the main growth point by about a metre. Reduction is required to allow light to two windows, prevent regrowth beyond height of roof pediment (maintenance and aesthetic concerns to listed building) and to curtail overall growth of the tree in order to restrict danger of root growth under the house. 2. Tree number 2, to the right, close to the boundary with Lawn House, is to be removed. Despite crown reduction in 2016 and regular minor maintenance this tree has continued to project roots under the front of the (grade 2 listed) house. In order to protect the fabric of the house it has been necessary to truncate and extract large roots found extending under the building during remedial works earlier this year. To prevent recurrence we need (regretfully) to remove the tree. Note for convenience of planning dept: Previous application to reduce the trees permitted 1/3/2016 16/0219/06. Decision was then not to make a TPO. Additional info: Applicants have been informally advised by National Trust staff at Killerton (where identical Magnolia Grandiflora is grown against the house) that these plants should only be grown as large shrubs in this type of situation and replaced at 15 years old. They were surprised that these examples have been allowed to reach maturity so close to a listed structure. A positive mitigation for removing tree 2, is previous planting of a cherry tree a few metres in front of it, closer to the public highway. This additional tree has now reached a similar scale to the magnolia it is proposed to replace.

As published by the council, reference 24/1452/CAT

Application record

Reference
24/1452/CAT
Type
Works to Trees in a Conservation Area
Status
Permitted
Decision
Granted As published: Permitted
Received
7 Dec 2024
Validated
24 Dec 2024
Decided
20 Jan 2025
Ward
St Davids
Decision by
Delegated Decision
Postcode
EX2 4DB

Timeline

Dates from the published record

  1. 7 Dec 2024

    Received by Exeter

  2. 24 Dec 2024

    Validated

    Checked as complete and ready for consideration.

  3. 20 Jan 2025

    Decision issued: Permitted

  4. 30 Sep 2026

    Added to PlanIndex

Documents

Plans, drawings, consultee responses and the officer's report

7 documents on file for this application

A planning file usually holds the application form, drawings and site plans, consultee responses, the officer's report and the decision notice.

Watch members (£5 a month) open the document list from here.

Open the documents

What this grant of permission means

Exeter granted permission on 20 January 2025, subject to any conditions on the decision notice. Work must normally begin within three years or the permission lapses. More in our guide to what happens after a planning decision.

About tree works applications

Applications for works to trees cover protected trees: consent under a tree preservation order, or six weeks notice for trees in a conservation area. More in our guide to planning application types.

Nearby applications

Within 0.3 miles

  • Acacia House Friars Green Exeter EX2 4DB

    26/0404/LBC Submitted 19 Mar 2026 50 yards away

    Retention of works undertaken to single-storey extension, and other associated works including blocking up ground floor openings.

    Granted Heritage and listed buildings Extension 27 docs
    Small domestic

  • Acacia House Friars Green Exeter EX2 4DB

    26/0403/FUL Submitted 19 Mar 2026 50 yards away

    Single-storey extension (revisions to previous approval 12/0327/FUL) (partly retrospective)

    Granted Full applications Extension 31 docs
    Small domestic

  • Riverside Court Colleton Crescent Exeter EX2 4BZ

    25/1108/CAT Submitted 14 Aug 2025 50 yards away

    T2 - Crab Apple Suggested Works: Crown thin by 30% T3 - Rowan Suggested Works: Remove major hazardous deadwood T4 - Ash Suggested Works: Remove major hazardous deadwood. Remove epicormic growth on main limbs. Remove low limb extending towards highway. Reduce canopy away from building to achieve a 2m clearance. Rationale: The above works are proposed as part of the reasonable and rationale management of these street trees.

    Granted Trees 5 docs

  • Colleton Chambers Colleton Crescent Exeter Devon EX2 4DG

    21/1151/TPO Submitted 20 Jul 2021 100 yards away

    T1-Multi-stemmed holm oak - Crown lift to achieve a minimum 5.2m statutory highways clearance, by pruning secondary branches back to the primary branch. T2- Middle holm oak - Prune 3 primary branches back to the main stem to achieve 5.2m statutory highways clearance. T3- Holm oak prune one primary back to the main stem branch fork and tip reduce secondary branches to suitable growth points. This will give minimum 5.2m statutory highways clearance. Crown lift to 4 metres the overhang in car park area. Hedge beneath holm oaks trim annual growth from all profiles.

    Granted Trees 3 docs

  • North Warehouse Kings Wharf The Quay Exeter EX2 4AN

    24/0420/LBC Submitted 16 Apr 2024 100 yards away

    Replacement of painted timber sash bay windows on first and second floor with heritage double glazing to match existing arrangement and finish.

    Granted Heritage and listed buildings Windows or glazing 15 docs

  • Crane Cellars Communal Toilets The Quay Exeter Devon

    23/0451/FUL Submitted 4 Apr 2023 100 yards away

    Conversion of former WCs into studio/office space, replacement roof covering, roof lights and entrance door. Internal alterations.

    Granted Full applications Loft or dormer Roofing 16 docs

In Exeter

  • 26/1484/CAT Awaiting decision

    1 Longacres Exeter EX2 4LW

    Magnolia Tree adjacent to wall adjoining the Old Rectory in Matford Lane. The magnolia is to be reduced by appoximately 5 metres to the level of the previous reduction. The neighbours in the adjoining property, The Old Rectory in Matford Lane, are supportive of the proposal. Ginko Tree next to and damaging the ancient cob wall between 1 Long Acres and the properties in Wayland Avenue. The Ginko is to be cut down to a height of between 1 and 2 metres to hopefully enable it to regrow but pruned regularly on the wall side of the trunk to train it away from the wall.

    Received 6 Oct, published by the council 9 Oct 2026 Trees
  • 26/1479/TPO Awaiting decision

    Lucombe Court Stadium Way Exeter EX4 6JX

    T1 - Oak - Reduce the canopy by approximately 3-4m on all aspects. This work will be carried out under a road closure for one of the working days. Remove the self-set holly, oak and buddleia to near ground level. Please see supporting subsidence tree report regarding damage to the structure supplied by our client

    Received 5 Oct, published by the council 9 Oct 2026 Trees
  • 26/1474/CAT Awaiting decision

    27 St Leonards Road Exeter EX2 4LA

    T1 Beech. Remove first four branches growing across kitchen window. Cut back from building to give 2m clearance.

    Received 4 Oct, published by the council 6 Oct 2026 Trees
  • 26/1342/CAT Granted

    25 Matford Avenue Exeter EX2 4PL

    Magnolia denudata currently approx 6 metres high, and spreading. To be shaped and slightly reduced in height Height reduction 1.5 metres Spread reduction (all round) 1 metre

    Received 4 Sep, published by the council 17 Sep 2026 Trees
  • 26/1161/TPO Refused

    19 Falkland Close Exeter EX4 5EZ

    Oak tree on no mans land embankment which over looks garden of 18 Falkland Close, Exeter, EX4 5EZ. It has a large branch overhanging our garden. Tree surgeon Mitchell Tree Surgery has visited site and advised it needs to be removed. He says it is a large overhanging heavy limb which could cause considerable damage. Last year a large branch from a neighbouring oak next to It came down in a storm and caused damage. Our neighbours in number 18 and ourselves are concerned about this particular branch we wish to report to be removed. The tree itself has grown to 60 foot plus range and we all feel our houses are at risk. Sketch plan attached

    Received 4 Aug, published by the council 16 Aug 2026 Trees