Planning application
St Josephs Catholic Primary School, Dartmouth Park Hill, London, N19 5DT
Works: Trees
Still open. Anyone can comment while the consultation period runs, and comments go to the council rather than to us.
Proposal
We are requesting the removal of a cherry tree LBI TPI 414 2009 to make space for a permanent outdoor classroom within our school’s environmental learning area. We are a large Primary school with 530 pupils (2 to 11 yrs) with a large number of children eligible for free school meals 31%. Many children do not have daily access to outdoor space and the school is the only area where they can fully engage in learning about growing plants and wildlife. The outdoor classroom will allow us to deliver a Forest School approach giving our children hands-on, nature-based experiences throughout the year. Unlike a traditional classroom, this space will sit at the heart of our outdoor learning zone, next to our pond and growing areas. It will help children feel part of nature, not just observers. Unfortunately, this is the only suitable site within our grounds that is large enough to put in place a meaningful building. Most other areas are sloped, already in use, or not accessible for younger pupils. The proposed site is: • Flat and safe for young children. • Central to our existing environmental learning resources. • Already contains a structure, so disruption to other areas will be minimal. • The only area that meets access, safety, and logistical requirements. This classroom will be used daily to deliver curriculum content and outdoor education. It will also be available for local groups and parent-led activities, and we would welcome the local authority to see it as a model for how outdoor learning can work within school grounds. The cherry tree on site is currently overgrown. While we understand it holds a CAVAT value and may be a Category B tree, it does not support our educational or biodiversity goals in its current state. By contrast, the new classroom will be a daily-used learning space, offering greater value to both pupils and the wider community. Our school has a strong record of supporting biodiversity. We’ve planted at least ten fruit trees in recent years to create a mini orchard, and would be happy to plant further replacements to offset the removal. We are also open to: • Planting replacement trees or making other biodiversity contributions – we would like to enhance our growing beds and develop the pond area as well as the habitat for our chickens. • Working with the LA to ensure no impact to nearby Root Protection Areas. For us, this project is such an important step in developing the environment & outdoor learning at our school. As an outstanding primary school and an exemplar of excellent and forward thinking practice of Primary curriculum this is part of the overall strategy to further enhance the children’s experiences. It’s a carefully planned, environmentally responsible initiative that will benefit children, staff, and the local community. We value all the trees and the beautiful environment around us and would not remove a tree if the educational and long-term environmental gains did not far outweigh the loss of this tree.
As published by the council, reference P2025/1867/TRE
Application record
- Reference
- P2025/1867/TRE
- Type
- Works application to tree with Tree Preservation Order
- Status
- FINAL DECISION
- Received
- 27 Jun 2025
- Validated
- 6 Oct 2025
- Decision by
- Delegated
- Postcode
- N19 5DT
Site history
Applications at this address on the Islington register
This site has had 2 applications since 2025: 1 approved, 0 refused.
-
P2026/1124/TRE Granted
St Josephs Catholic Primary School, Dartmouth Park Hill, London, N19 5DT
TPO application: 8 x Poplars (T6 to T14): any roots found within the upper 230mm
Timeline
Dates from the published record
-
27 Jun 2025
Received by Islington
-
6 Oct 2025
Validated
Checked as complete and ready for consideration.
-
25 Jul 2026
Added to PlanIndex
-
Decision
Awaiting decision
Decision expected by 1 December 2025, 8 weeks from validation under the statutory target for most applications. Extensions of time are common and are agreed case by case.
Islington took a median of 52 days over the applications it decided in the last year.
Documents
Plans, drawings, consultee responses and the officer's report
5 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.
Trade members open them from here.
Open the documentsWhat happens while it is decided
This application is with Islington for determination, against a statutory target of eight weeks. Over the last year Islington decided tree works applications in a median of 4 days. More in our guide to how long planning decisions take.
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 500 metres
-
St Josephs School, Dartmouth Park Hill, London, N19 5DT
St Joseph's RC Primary (various locations) (TPO ref - TPO 414/2009) 3444 (T14 on TPO Schedule) Lombardy Poplar - Reduce height by 6-8m and reduce lower crown to keep tree at a size suitable for its location and to prevent branches snapping out over play area. 3445 (T39 on TPO Schedule) Weeping Willow - Re-pollard to previous points removing 5m of re-growth. Reduce SE limb by a further 2-3m. Work being carried out to keep tree at a size suitable for its location and to prevent branches snapping out over play area. 3446 (T47 on TPO Schedule) Sycamore - Crown lift to 7-8m as branches are overhanging driveway.
Granted Trees 4 docs -
St Josephs Catholic Primary School, Dartmouth Park Hill, London, N19 5DT
TPO application: 8 x Poplars (T6 to T14): any roots found within the upper 230mm
Granted Trees -
66 Highgate Hill, London, N19 5NQ
Cherry - Crown reduce the unruly height by branch lengths of up to 1.0m
Granted Trees -
80-90 Highgate Hill, London, N19 5NQ
Approval of details pursuant to condition 19 (secured by design) of planning per
Granted -
Dartmouth Lodge Dartmouth Park Hill London N19 5JF
Change of use from ancillary park/caretaker's office to a single dwelling house (Class C3) including installation of timber access gate in east elevation boundary wall.
Granted Full applicationsSmall domestic -
Dartmouth Lodge Dartmouth Park Hill London N19 5JF
Replacement of two first floor windows on east and west elevations, associated with the change of use from ancillary park/caretaker's office to a single dwelling house (Class C3) approved under planning permission 2013/4864/P dated 09/07/2014.
Granted Full applications Windows or glazingDomestic
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