Planning application
25/1669/CAT
St Margarets Church Fore Street Topsham EX3 0HL
Proposal
Job 82395 St Margarets Church - Fagus sylvatica - Canopy is touching church. Prune away from church to achieve clearance of 2m. Job 82396 St Margarets Church - Taxus baccata - Canopy is obscuring spotlight onto church. Prune canopy to clear spotlight and splay of light. Job 82397 St Margarets Church - Acer pseudoplatanus - Canopy is in close proximity to adjacent buildings. Reduce away from all three adjacent buildings to provide 3m clearance Job 82398 St Margarets Church - Quercus robur - Canopy is heavily overhanging footpath. Crown lift over footpath to achieve 2.4m clearance above ground level.
As published by the council, reference 25/1669/CAT
Timeline
Dates from the published record
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24 Nov 2025
Received by Exeter
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8 Dec 2025
Decision issued: Permitted
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26 Jul 2026
Added to PlanIndex
What a grant of permission means
The process from here
Permission has been granted, usually subject to conditions listed on the decision notice, some of which must be discharged before work starts. The decision notice on the council portal sets out exactly what was approved.
Work must normally begin within three years of the decision or the permission lapses. Neighbours cannot appeal a grant; challenging one means judicial review of how the decision was made, within tight time limits.
About trees applications
How this application type works
Tree applications cover work to protected trees: those under a tree preservation order need consent for pruning or felling, and trees in a conservation area need six weeks written notice before work starts. The council assesses the amenity value of the tree and can refuse consent, approve it with conditions, or in conservation areas make a preservation order in response.
Nearby applications
Within 500 metres
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26/0043/FUL Refused
56A Fore Street Topsham EX3 0HW
Replacement of the rear staircase (fire escape). Construction of side-facing rear dormer window with a roof-level balcony. Removal of 2 2nd floor rear-facing windows and replacement by a single bay window. Installation of two larger replacement rear rooflight windows.
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26/0040/LBC Refused
56A Fore Street Topsham EX3 0HW
Replacement of the rear staircase (fire escape). Construction of side-facing rear dormer window with a roof-level balcony. Removal of 2 2nd floor rear-facing windows and replacement by a single bay window. Installation of two larger replacement rear rooflight windows.
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24/1073/FUL Granted
Retaining Wall At The Base Of St Margaret's Church Underway Topsham EX3 0HX
Install information sign for new Topsham Heritage Trail
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26/0520/LBC Withdrawn
The Flat 58 Fore Street Topsham EX3 0HW
The renovation, repair and single glazing of a historic window opening on the north elevation at the second level.
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25/1408/LBC Refused
The Flat 58 Fore Street Topsham EX3 0HW
Replacement of non-opening single pane window at the rear with an identically sized double-glazed European pine storm-proof casement window painted white
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24/1074/LBC Granted
Retaining Wall At The Base Of St Margaret's Church Underway Topsham EX3 0HX
Install information sign for new Topsham Heritage Trail
Other trees applications
In Exeter
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26/1122/CAT Awaiting decision
Collingwood Mews Bicton Place Exeter EX1 2PG
T1 - Lawson cypress, abutting and pressing on the side boundary wall: Fell
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26/1112/CAT Awaiting decision
Homedale Health 34 Denmark Road Exeter EX1 1SE
T1 Yew reduce canopy by approximately 1m and reduce disproportionately overgrown westerly limb by approximately 2m in order to re balance tree. T2 Pittosporum reduce by approximately 1m for maintenance.
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26/1116/CAT Awaiting decision
10 Magdalen Road Exeter EX2 4SY
T1 - Eucalyptus - Reduce away from property (no. 10 Magdalen Road) allowing a clearance of approximately 1.5m - 2m. Reduce away from neighbouring property (no. 12 Magdalen Road ) allowing a clearance of approximately 1.5 - 2m. Reduce lower branch towards road on Northwest aspect by 1.5 -2m. Crown raise lowest limb in neighbouring property by approx 1m -1.5m. Reason for works: The proposed works are intended to provide appropriate clearance from the neighbouring properties (Nos. 10 and 12) and the adjacent road, reducing the likelihood of branches coming into contact with the buildings during periods of high winds or continued growth. The crown reduction and selective crown raising will also allow increased natural light to reach the neighbouring properties while retaining the tree?s overall form, health and amenity value. The works represent a balanced approach to ongoing tree management and will help minimise the potential for future damage to nearby structures.
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26/1113/CAT Awaiting decision
40 Alphington Road Exeter EX2 8HS
T001 Elder - A full crown reduction of approximately 1.0-1.5 metres to reduce overall crown dimensions while maintaining a balanced and natural form. T002 Acer - Reduce and reshape the Acer crown by up to 0.5-1.0m on selected branch extremities to maintain a balanced natural form, undertake a light crown thin (approximately 10-15%) to remove congested and crossing branches, and carry out a minor crown lift where required to provide clearance beneath the canopy
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26/0574/TPO Granted
Block H Birks Halls New North Road Exeter EX4 4GE
The yew tree in question is showing signs of asymmetric crown formation. After previous limb failure causing a structural imbalance to the remaining crown. My proposal for the future vigour of this tree is to Install a dynamic cobra bracing system to support the imbalance of the lower structural limbs forming a strong three way triangulation of support for the lateral growth that has become very prone to wind through. Please see photo (Yew Reduction Points) for bracing points highlighted in blue. Selective thinning of the whole crown by removing internal growth with a maximum cut size of 60mm diameter 1.5m length by removing multiple smaller limbs I believe this will be more beneficial to the trees structure, and limit the amount of large wounds left by the thinning works. Allowing for better wind distribution through the remaining crown hopefully eliminating future wind through. by leaving the larger structural limbs intact for the future longevity of the structural integrity. please see photo (Yew Reduction Points) with cut points highlighted in red for chosen thinning points throughout the crown Remove failed limb back to the branch collar. The failed limb supported by lower crown hazard beam fracturing of the timber 150mm diameter 2.5m length this will be the largest of the limbs to be removed through suggested works. red dotted line on attached photo hard to see the hazard beam on the photo (Yew Reduction Points) Selective reduction of the height maximum of 1m in length 40mm cut size to the crown on selected limbs again highlighted in red so that again the risk of wind through will be reduced.