Planning application
Homecombe House St Albans Road Torquay TQ1 3ND
Works: Trees
Permission granted. Work must normally begin within three years of the decision or the permission lapses.
Proposal
Oak (T1) - Reduce the outer crown to the NW and SW by up to 1.5 m, ensuring final cuts do not exceed 50 mm diameter. The resulting crown spread will be approximately 6-7 m from stem to crown edge in each direction, in accordance with BS 3998:2010. The tree is situated near No. 18, adjacent to a bus stop and car park within a landscaped garden. Works are proposed to mitigate nuisance from bird droppings on the patio, which pose a potential health risk, while retaining the tree's amenity and structural integrity. The proposed works are necessary to mitigate nuisance and health risks arising from bird droppings on the patio, which can act as breeding grounds for parasites transmissible to humans. The tree's proximity to a bus stop and landscaped car park increases public exposure, making crown management essential for safeguarding amenity and public health. Selective reduction of the NW and SW crown will lessen overhang and shading, while retaining the tree's overall form and structural integrity in accordance with BS 3998:2010. The works will ensure that the crown maintains adequate clearance above the adjacent car park, consistent with the minimum highway clearance standard of 5.03 m. This is particularly important given the restricted manoeuvrability for larger vehicles near the bus stop, where safe passage must be maintained for public transport, service, and emergency vehicles.
As published by the council, reference AT/2025/0334
Application record
- Reference
- AT/2025/0334
- Type
- Works To Tree Within TPO
- Status
- Decided
- Decision
- Granted As published: Approval
- Received
- 7 Nov 2025
- Validated
- 13 Nov 2025
- Decided
- 31 Dec 2025
- Ward
- St Marychurch
- Decision by
- Delegated
- Postcode
- TQ1 3ND
Site history
Applications at this address on the Torbay register
This site has had 2 applications since 2025: 2 approved, 0 refused.
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AT/2026/0187 Granted
Homecombe House St Albans Road Torquay TQ1 3ND
T006 - 1x Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) ///drank.axed.trader- Sectionally dismantle, fell, and remove to ground level using appropriate dismantling techniques to ensure the safe and controlled removal of all sections. Re-Placement Tree Planting Specification To plant 1x Selected Standard Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) 30 litre pot,10 - 12cm girth, approximately 3.0 metres in height. See QTRA for justification
Timeline
Dates from the published record
-
7 Nov 2025
Received by Torbay
-
13 Nov 2025
Validated
Checked as complete and ready for consideration.
-
31 Dec 2025
Decision issued: Approval
-
12 Aug 2026
Added to PlanIndex
Documents
Plans, drawings, consultee responses and the officer's report
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 31 December 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
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Homecombe House St Albans Road Torquay TQ1 3ND
T006 - 1x Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata) ///drank.axed.trader- Sectionally dismantle, fell, and remove to ground level using appropriate dismantling techniques to ensure the safe and controlled removal of all sections. Re-Placement Tree Planting Specification To plant 1x Selected Standard Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) 30 litre pot,10 - 12cm girth, approximately 3.0 metres in height. See QTRA for justification
Granted Trees -
18 Babbacombe Road Torquay TQ1 3SJ
Variation of Conditions relating to application P/2021/0893 (Variation of P/2017/0178 (Conversion of Hotel into 9 apartments, demolition of later additions, creation of communal garden and terraces and shared facilities)): Amend Plans Condition (P1) to provide roof terraces to Units 7 and 9 (2nd Floor Rear); Amend Condition 7 wording to reference roof terraces to Units 7 and 9.
Granted Amendments New dwelling Demolition 14 docsSeveral homes -
Norcliffe Hotel 7 Babbacombe Downs Road Torquay TQ1 3LF
Kitchen ventilation ducting and green infrastructure roof improvements (retrospective).
Refused Full applications -
Norcliffe Hotel 7 Babbacombe Downs Road Torquay TQ1 3LF
79% historically approved · decision due ~12 Mar
Alterations to roof profile with removal of flat roofs over villa. Re-configuration of loft space to create bedrooms, with various alterations to first floor, including improvement of room layouts and addition of balcony amenity space. Alterations to ground floor restaurant, including extension to front, with bi-fold terrace doors.
Awaiting decision Full applications Extension Windows or glazing -
Norcliffe Hotel 7 Babbacombe Downs Road Torquay TQ1 3LF
T1 - Beech - Mature tree touching guttering in places. Would like to prune back from building stopping any future damage to fascia and guttering. Prune tertiary branches back by 1.5m or less. Make pruning cuts of 10cm or less. Pruning sympathetically from building while keeping the aesthetical value from the rest of the road. T2 - Mulberry Morus Alba - This tree has been dying for last few years and last year has put out a lot of epicormic growth showing signs of stress and ill health. The tree is heavily leaning over the footpath and car park. If the tree was to fail it could cause injury to pedestrian. I would like to dismantle the tree to ground level and re plant in the existing border in order to keep the aesthetics of the road.
Refused Trees 2 docs -
Babbacombe Guest House 53 Babbacombe Road Torquay TQ1 3SN
Change of use from Guest house to Single Dwelling.
Granted Full applicationsDomestic
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.