Planning application
Highwoods Haverhill Road Stapleford Cambridgeshire CB22 5BX
Works: Trees
Refused. Only the applicant can appeal, within the statutory time limit, and a revised scheme can be submitted instead.
Proposal
T1 - Large beech on the edge of the TPO protected wooded area at Highwoods - Fell Reason - The tree has pronounced edge-effect and a heavily asymmetrical crown. 2 large beech to the side of this tree were removed due to being dead but their presence had provided a screen from the wind. Removing them has changed the wind dynamic and the lateral force experienced by the tree. The vast majority of the crown is concentrated into the upper 3rd of the tree which gives a high centre of mass, shifting the centre of gravity out laterally away from the main stem and centre of root-mass, whilst increasing the turning moment exerted on the base of the tree during high winds. The long lateral limb combined with the 'flattened' crown form also increases the torsional force transferred to the stem during high winds, leading to the risk of a torsional fracture and stem failure. There are no appropriate reduction works which will overcome the extent of lean and associated risks, indeed a heavy reduction would leave large wounds which expose the tree to fungal infection and compromised timber strength.
As published by the council, reference 26/0738/TTPO
Application record
- Reference
- 26/0738/TTPO
- Type
- Works to TPO trees
- Status
- Decided
- Decision
- Refused As published: Refused Permission
- Received
- 17 Jul 2026
- Validated
- 17 Jul 2026
- Decided
- 27 Aug 2026
- Ward
- Shelford
- Parish
- Stapleford CP
- Decision by
- Tree - Officer (SCDC)
- Postcode
- CB22 5BX
Site history
Applications at this address on the South Cambridgeshire register
This site has had 2 applications since 2025: 1 approved, 1 refused.
-
25/0400/TTPO Granted
Highwoods Haverhill Road Stapleford Cambridgeshire CB22 5BX
T1 and T2: Beech - Due to the shading effect of the woodland behind and foliage above the lower limbs are getting very long and weighted towards the tips which increases the risk of failure in high winds (increased turning moment at attachment point). Permission is sought to laterally reduce these limbs by up to 4m into the pruning points shown in the attached photograph. Pruning to these points will allow the branches to continue to grow from the branching points just inbound of the pruning cuts and should negate the need for further pruning work for years to come.
Timeline
Dates from the published record
-
17 Jul 2026
Received by South Cambridgeshire
-
29 Jul 2026
Added to PlanIndex
-
27 Aug 2026
Decision issued: Refused Permission
Who's behind it
Company information only, from the register and Companies House
Woodcraft Tree Services Ltd Agent, a tree-works contractor registered in Stamford
Active · incorporated 2014 · Stamford
72 applications on PlanIndex · across 8 councils · 97% granted
Trade members see everything this firm has filed, how it was decided, and get an email the day it files again.
See their track recordDocuments
Plans, drawings, consultee responses and the officer's report
8 documents on file for this application
- DECISION NOTICE
- PARISH
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENT LETTER
- APPLICATION FORM - NO PERSONAL INFO
- FEE CALCULATION
- LOCATION PLAN
- TREE PHOTO 1
- TREE PHOTO 2
Watch members (£5 a month) open the document list from here.
Open the documentsWhat this refusal means
South Cambridgeshire refused this application for the reasons on the decision notice; only the applicant can appeal, and refused schemes often return in revised form. 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
-
Highwoods Haverhill Road Stapleford Cambridgeshire CB22 5BX
T1 and T2: Beech - Due to the shading effect of the woodland behind and foliage above the lower limbs are getting very long and weighted towards the tips which increases the risk of failure in high winds (increased turning moment at attachment point). Permission is sought to laterally reduce these limbs by up to 4m into the pruning points shown in the attached photograph. Pruning to these points will allow the branches to continue to grow from the branching points just inbound of the pruning cuts and should negate the need for further pruning work for years to come.
Granted Trees 7 docs -
Longacre Haverhill Road Stapleford Cambridgeshire CB22 5BX
S73 to vary conditions 2 (Approved plans) and 3 (Materials) of planning permission 25/01551/HFUL (Proposed two storey rear (north west elevation ) gabled extension. New matching bay window to the front (south east) elevation. New first floor window on side elevation) relocation of kitchen into single storey space, increase in the ridge height by around 300mm above the existing, alteration and reduction to the window and door openings on north-west, south-east and north-east elevations, clad the single storey in timber cladding to match the rear single storey garden studio and increase in the insulation in the walls and removal of the existing tiles and replace with slate to match the rear single storey garden studio.
Granted Amendments Extension Roofing +1 15 docsSmall domestic -
Land At Highwoods Haverhill Road Stapleford Cambridgeshire CB22 5BX
95% historically approved · decision due ~14 Jul
Submission of details required by conditions 3 (surface water drainage), 4 (arboricultural method statement and tree protection plan), 6 (construction ecological management plan), 7 (ecological enhancement scheme), 8 (artificial lighting scheme), 10 (hard and soft landscape works), 11 (external materials) and 12 (biodiversity net gain plan) of planning permission 26/00646/FUL
Awaiting decision Conditions Trees 19 docs -
Longacre Haverhill Road Stapleford Cambridgeshire CB22 5BX
Certificate of lawfulness under S192 to demolish and rebuild garden studio ancillary to the main dwellinghouse
Granted Lawful development Demolition 12 docsDomestic -
Chalk Hill Haverhill Road Stapleford CB22 5BX
Submission of details required by condition 4 (lighting design strategy for biodiversity) of planning permission 21/02851/FUL
Granted Conditions 12 docs -
Chalk Hill Haverhill Road Stapleford Cambridge Cambridgeshire CB22 5BX
Single storey rear extension
Granted Householder Extension 18 docsSmall domestic
Other tree works applications
In South Cambridgeshire
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26/0946/TTCA Granted
Honeydew House The Main Road Papworth St Agnes Cambridgeshire CB23 3QU
T1:Silver birch in front garden 2-3 metre crown reduction. T2:Cherry tree in front garden up to 1 metre crown reduction. T3:Popular tree in back garden 2-3 metre crown reduction. T4:Silver birch tree in back garden 2-3 metre crown reduction. T5:Red oak tree in back garden 2-3 metre crown reduction.
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26/03773/TTHR Awaiting decision
Land To The South-west And East Of Hinxton Grange Cambridge Road Hinxton Cambridgeshire
Hedgerow removal of up to 8m of hedgerow
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26/0971/TTCA Granted
Burgoynes House Burgoynes Road Impington Cambridgeshire CB24 9NB
Prunus (T1) - crown reduction of 2.5 to alleviate weight Ash (T2) re-pollard to previous pollard points with a finished hight of 10 meters to alleviate weight Lime (T3) - lower and middle crown reduction of overextended limbs 2.5 meters to alleviate weight Lime (T4) - reduce by 4 meters with a finished height of 12 meters to allow more light into property
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26/0614/TTPO Withdrawn
3 The Bungalows The Knapwell Wood Road Knapwell Cambridgeshire CB23 4NS
TG2 ( Cherry, Elder, Maple, Elm 15 Semi-mature) to maintain the dimensions of height 3 metres, canopy radius of 1 metre, and diameter at breast height and number of stems is 10cm. Works required is to maintain vegetation at current dimensions through periodic pruning to maintain the vegetation dimensions of: height 3 metres, canopy radius of 1 metre, and diameter at breast height and number of stems is 10cm. - TG4 ( Ash, Sycamore, Elm 5 Young) to maintain the dimensions of height 4 metres, canopy radius of 2 metres, and diameter at breast height and number of stems is 5cm. Works required is to maintain vegetation at current dimensions through periodic pruning to maintain the vegetation dimensions of: height 4 metres, canopy radius of 2 metres, and diameter at breast height and number of stems is 5cm.
-
26/1134/TTCA Awaiting decision
9 Cotterells Lane Elsworth Cambridgeshire CB23 4JR
Ash - reduce height and spread on all sides by 2m down to previous pruning points