Planning application
Apartment 3 Ellington Court St Lukes Road South Torquay TQ2 5NZ
Works: Trees
Permission granted. Work must normally begin within three years of the decision or the permission lapses.
Proposal
The trees form part of a tall hedge that border the slope of the grounds. The trees are growing on the bordering wall that drops to Warren Road, approx 8 feet below. The hedge consists of 1 - Bay Shrub, 2 - Yew Tree, 3 - Leylandi, 4 - Leylandi, 5 - Yew Tree, 6 - Yew Tree, 7 - Bay Shrub. A telegraph pole stands by the wall where the hedge is situated (with numerous cables). The yew tree near the pole is obscuring it now from the Ellington Grounds and is at risk of entanglement with the cables. Request to lower. The hedge is subject to wind disturbance. It's height is an issue for safety regarding the retaining wall of Ellington Court dropping down to Warren Road and for tree fall on the highway of Warren Road below. The telegraph pole and cables are at risk of damage from the branches and greenery movement. A reduction in height by 3 feet would stablise and secure the hedge to form a safer and maintainable barrier. Clear View Trees has viewed the hedge and advised us to make this application before there is any attempt to lower the height of the hedge that contains 3 yew trees. The hedge grew considerably during the restricting time of the pandemic and present time.
As published by the council, reference AT/2022/0338
Application record
- Reference
- AT/2022/0338
- Type
- Works To Tree Within CA
- Status
- Registered
- Decision
- Granted As published: Tree - Conservation area no objections
- Received
- 13 Dec 2022
- Validated
- 9 Jan 2023
- Decided
- 20 Feb 2023
- Ward
- Tormohun
- Decision by
- Delegated
- Postcode
- TQ2 5NZ
Timeline
Dates from the published record
-
13 Dec 2022
Received by Torbay
-
9 Jan 2023
Validated
Checked as complete and ready for consideration.
-
20 Feb 2023
Decision issued: Tree - Conservation area no objections
-
2 Sep 2026
Added to PlanIndex
Documents
Plans, drawings, consultee responses and the officer's report
4 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.
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Open the documentsWhat this grant of permission means
Torbay granted permission on 20 February 2023, 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
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Villa Rosa St Lukes Road South Torquay TQ2 5NZ
T1 - 1x Horse Chestnut Tree (Aesculus hippocastanum) Undertake selective crown lifting of primary and secondary branches overhanging the garden area of Villa Rosa. All pruning cuts are to be made back to the main stem, in order to achieve appropriate clearance while retaining the overall health, structural integrity and natural form of the tree (see annotated photo attached). All pruning operations shall be carried out in full accordance with BS 39982010 - Tree Work Recommendations, ensuring that final pruning cuts are made at suitable growth points and that unnecessary or excessive pruning is avoided. Individual pruning wounds shall not exceed 60 mm in diameter, thereby minimising physiological stress to the tree and reducing the risk of decay or dysfunction. All arisings generated from the works shall be removed from site and returned to a Devon Tree Services depot for recycling. Upon completion, the site shall be left in a safe, clean, and tidy condition. Justification The proposed selective pruning works to the Horse Chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) are intended to address issues of excessive shading and to manage branch growth extending over the garden area of Villa Rosa. The overhanging primary and secondary branches currently restrict natural daylight penetration, adversely affecting garden amenity and usability. In addition, a number of extended lateral branches exhibit increased end-weight and leverage beyond the garden boundary. Selective reduction back to suitable previous pruning points or, where necessary, to the main stem will reduce mechanical loading on these limbs and lower the risk of branch failure, particularly during periods of high wind or adverse weather. The proposed works are minor, targeted, and proportionate, and have been designed to retain the tree's overall health, structural integrity, and natural form. All pruning will be undertaken in full accordance with BS 3998:2010 - Tree Work: Recommendation.
Granted Trees -
Cumberland House Warren Road Torquay TQ2 5TU
G1: Row of Holm Oak: Rear garden area - back boundary. Mixed species hedge row (Predominantly Holm oak) Starting from the right-hand side, reduce the bay to match the existing height of the adjacent bay. Fell three cypress trees within hedge line to ground level. Step up at the shed, reducing the holm oak to approximately 0.5m above the shed roof apex, removing approximately 1 - 1.5m. Carry out a hard cutback of the roadside face of the hedge by approximately 1m. All pruning cuts to be made at suitable growth points. All works carried out to BS 3998:2010 Tree Works Recommendation Remove all cut material from site & return to a Teign Trees depot for recycling, leaving the area safe, clean & tidy.
Refused TreesSmall domestic -
Mapleton House St Lukes Road North Torquay TQ2 5PD
5 Day Notice Mature Beech - To Fell - The tree has failed at the pollard head and now has little amenity value.
Granted Trees -
Flat 1 Vernon Court Warren Road Torquay TQ2 5TR
Holm Oak 12m Tall 50cm diameter (Already have approved plan for other three trees on site, scope to mirror that) Crown mai fence works requested to cut back to previous pruning points, not as far as original pollard but to the secondary pollard points, this has been noted on tree inspectors recent visit looking at other trees on site. This tree was not included in the original request due to a miscommunication between owner and agent. Plan to reduce radial spread down from 9m to 7m roughly removing 1.5-2m of regrowth.
Granted TreesSmall domestic -
Flat 3 Vernon Court Warren Road Torquay TQ2 5TR
80% historically approved · decision due ~12 Nov
T1 Holm oak Fair Old lapsed pollard, previous crown reductions. Excessive regrowth from old pruning points. Well rooted, no decay Crown reduction to region of previous pruning, slight thinning of inner canopy and removal of dead wood. 12 T2 Holm oak Fair 4 x stem from ground level, previous crown reduction. Tight to garden path, but appears well rooted. Crown reduction to region of previous pruning, slight thinning of inner canopy and removal of dead wood. 12 T3 Holm oak Fair Old lapsed pollard, previous crown reductions. Excessive regrowth from old pruning points. Well rooted, no decay, weighted down garden slope. Crown reduction to region of previous pruning, slight thinning of inner canopy and removal of dead wood. 12 T4 Holm oak Fair Smaller tree top of retaining wall, canopy weighted over footpath below retaining wall. No damage apparent from garden, some epicormic growth at base. Crown reduction to region of previous pruning, slight thinning of inner canopy and removal of dead wood. Remove basal epicormic All pruning cuts to be made at suitable growth points. All works carried out to BS 3998:2010 Tree Works Recommendations Remove all cut material from site & return to a Teign Trees depot for recycling, leaving the area safe, clean & tidy.
Awaiting decision Trees 2 docs -
Flat 1 Vernon Court Warren Road Torquay TQ2 5TR
Tree 1 Holm Oak 16m (h) 110cm (d) Cut back to previous approved cut, reducing excessive regrowth down by 4m to old cut previous pruning points bringing height down to 12m and radius to 8m equating to a 20% reduction The radial spread will be 8metre post pruning Tree 2 Holm Oak (multi stem) 15m (h) Cut back to previous cut points, reducing excessive regrowth by 4m to previous cut points reducing overall height to 11m and radius to 7m equating to a 15% reduction The radial spread will be 7m post pruning Tree 3 Holm Oak 12m(h) 1m(d) Cut back to previous cut points, reducing excessive regrowth by 4m to previous points bringing height down to 8m and radius to 12.5m equating to 20% reduction. The radial spread will be 12.5m post pruning On all three trees no cutting any further than has previously been completed.
Granted Trees
Other tree works applications
In Torbay
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AT/2026/0184 Granted
18A Mead Road Torquay TQ2 6TF
Crown lift secondary branch growth only up to approximately 4.5m from ground level to achieve the required vertical clearance above the driveway and neighbours. Crown thin overall leaf bearing twig structure by 10 percent. This will also help with canopy crowding and avoid other trees rubbing against each other. Remove all major dead wood from crown All trees are Fagus Sylvatica (Mature Beech) This work has been previously accepted in 2023, application submitted by Devon Tree Services and works were completed by them as well.
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AT/2026/0270 Awaiting decision
Flat 1 Greenwood Torwood Gardens Road Torquay TQ1 1EQ
T1 Mimosa Proposed works: Fell Mature Mimosa situated within a confined residential garden in a Conservation Area, immediately adjacent to a masonry boundary wall and nearby buildings. The presence of Ganoderma fruiting bodies at the base of the tree indicates a potential wood-decay infection. The tree also exhibits an irregular crown with apparent dieback and is growing within a severely restricted environment. Its proximity to residential property, garden areas and the public highway increases the potential consequences of structural failure. Felling is proposed on the grounds of suspected basal decay, apparent crown deterioration and the tree's restricted location.
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AT/2026/0271 Awaiting decision
8 Cecil Avenue Paignton TQ3 1LW
T1 - Holm Oak Recommended works: Establish a pollard framework by removing the three substantial lateral branches at the positions indicated by the red markings in Photograph 3. The proposed works are intended to reduce the extensive lateral crown and associated mechanical loading from the tree's pronounced lean, while retaining the tree. Cyclical management: Following establishment, implement a seven-year cyclical pollarding regime to manage regrowth, control crown size, and limit excessive loading on the retained framework. Inspect the developing pollard heads periodically, particularly during the initial establishment period, to assess shoot attachment, structural condition and physiological response. All works should be undertaken in accordance with BS 3998:2010, subject to confirmation that the proposed cutting positions and degree of crown removal are appropriate following an on-site assessment. The seven-year interval is the proposed management objective and should be reviewed based on the tree's regrowth and structural condition.
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AT/2026/0269 Awaiting decision
8 Ben Venue Close Torquay TQ1 1RX
T1 - Western Red Cedar Proposed works: Fell Reason for works T1 is an established Western red cedar growing in exceptionally close proximity to an existing stone boundary wall. Photographic evidence indicates that the lower stem is in direct contact with the masonry, creating a physical conflict between the tree and the structure. Continued radial growth of the stem could exert further pressure on the wall, resulting in progressive displacement and deterioration of the masonry. The close relationship between the stem and the wall also restricts access for inspection, maintenance and necessary repairs. The tree's position presents a long-term management conflict. Crown reduction would not resolve the fundamental issue at the base of the tree, as it would not prevent continued radial stem growth. Felling is recommended as a permanent way to resolve the physical conflict between the tree and the boundary wall, prevent further interference from stem growth, and facilitate any necessary structural repairs. This recommendation is based primarily on the tree's unsuitable position relative to the existing structure and the limited practical options for a sustainable long-term solution. Based on its apparent size and maturity, it is possible that the tree was planted after the original Tree Preservation Order (TPO) was established.
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AT/2026/0204 Granted
Flat 1 Vernon Court Warren Road Torquay TQ2 5TR
Holm Oak 12m Tall 50cm diameter (Already have approved plan for other three trees on site, scope to mirror that) Crown mai fence works requested to cut back to previous pruning points, not as far as original pollard but to the secondary pollard points, this has been noted on tree inspectors recent visit looking at other trees on site. This tree was not included in the original request due to a miscommunication between owner and agent. Plan to reduce radial spread down from 9m to 7m roughly removing 1.5-2m of regrowth.