Planning application
Warberry Lodge Higher Warberry Road Torquay TQ1 1SD
Works: Trees
Permission granted. Work must normally begin within three years of the decision or the permission lapses.
Proposal
Lime (T1) - I am writing to give formal notice under the five day exemption for urgent works to T1 Lime at Warberry Lodge, Higher Warberry Road Torquay TQ1 1SD. The tree is a lapsed pollard that has recently suffered a catastrophic limb failure, resulting in the loss of approximately half of its crown. The failure has exposed extensive, structurally unsound wood at the historic pollard head and left the remaining crown severely imbalanced, with significant torsional loading on the remaining scaffold limbs. The remaining structure is now asymmetrical and unstable, subject to further unpredictable failure, compromised at the old pollard points, and located directly above a regularly occupied garden with pedestrian access beneath the crown. Given the scale of the failure and the compromised structural integrity of the remaining crown, the tree now presents an immediate and unacceptable risk. The situation meets the criteria for urgent works under the exemption. The tree is a lapsed pollard. Although decay is present within the historic pollard head, the management option is to reintroduce the pollard cycle. Re-pollarding will significantly reduce crown mass and place greater leverage on the weakened pollard head, lowering the risk of structural failure while retaining the tree within the landscape. However, it will also add extra stress from heavy reduction and heat waves, possibly causing the tree to weaken further.
As published by the council, reference AT/2026/0165
Application record
- Reference
- AT/2026/0165
- Type
- Works To Tree-Dead And Dangerous
- Status
- Decided
- Decision
- Approval
- Received
- 30 Jun 2026
- Validated
- 30 Jun 2026
- Decided
- 2 Jul 2026
- Ward
- Wellswood
- Decision by
- Delegated
- Postcode
- TQ1 1SD
Timeline
Dates from the published record
-
30 Jun 2026
Received by Torbay
-
2 Jul 2026
Decision issued: Approval
-
1 Aug 2026
Added to PlanIndex
Related applications
Cases linked to this one on the register
- Application: AT/2026/0159 (Decided)
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.
Trade members open them from here.
Open the documentsWhat this grant of permission means
Torbay granted permission on 2 July 2026, 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 500 metres
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Alta Vista Higher Warberry Road Torquay TQ1 1SD
Recent emergency approved felling of two older Lime trees in next door neighbour's garden precipitated a check on our own Lime Tree sic. Precautionary Work is requested on Trunk 2 of a large mature Lime Tree in south part of our property. Sketch Plan Lime Tree position refers . The Lime tree has 4 Trunks from ground level - numbering from left to right in provided Photo Lime Tree 1 of 4 Trunk 2. Photo Lime Tree 2 of 4 shows vis discoloration separation of Trunk 2 from Trunk 3. Separation >=12cm August 2026. No previous measurement. Photo Lime Tree 3 of 4 shows southern inclination of Trunk 2 and extended southern branch growth giving increasing weight leverage/imbalance. Photo Lime Tree 4 of 4 shows extent of recent years Beefsteak fungus at base of Trunk 2 - width c 25cms August 2026. Condition of Lime Tree discussed on site with Jamie, Trees in Need who has managed bi-annually maintenance on our trees for c 20 years. Fungal infection currently appears to be on Trunk 2 base but Trunk 2 is closely twinned with Trunk 3 at this level. Trunk 3 is however largely vertical and foliage more balanced and therefore less at longer term risk. So Imminent/emergency danger of Trunk 2 failure not likely but following precautionary action suggested Requested permission for following Action for Trunk 2. Remove all top growth c 6/7 meter level as show in Photo Lime Tree 3 where extended South lateral growth is prominent to provide a largely vertical Trunk with reduced weight /leverage . Continue to monitor Trunk 2 & 3 separation and Fungal growth.
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Little Spinney Windsor Road Torquay TQ1 1SW
2. T2 Lime - pollard to points just above previous pollard points. Cyclically re-pollard when the regrowth reaches 4 metres. 3. T3 Lime - pollard to points just above previous pollard points. Cyclically re-pollard when the regrowth reaches 4 metres. 4. T4 Lime - management works: Prune back over the highway by 2m, clearing road sign, pruning secondary limbs only. Cyclically prune when branches obscure road sign, pruning secondary limbs only.
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Alta Vista Higher Warberry Road Torquay TQ1 1SD
Mature Ilex at side of approach driveway forming part of a mixed group of trees on the boundary of the property with the Wellswood path. Position of the Ilex and surrounding trees shown on appended site Sketch Plan. As only one tree is subject to this application, this is marked as ILEX in red box and not numbered. Work is requested to carry out reduction in the top third crown of the tree canopy through thinning /drop-crotch to maintain ongoing health of the tree and reduce the Ilex's dominance/impact on the other surrounding trees. Note all other Ilex trees in the property have been previously reduced during regular approved maintenance.
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Alta Vista Higher Warberry Road Torquay TQ1 1SD
TPO Trees T6 Multi trunk Chestnut - Main Trunk :Large N limb fell in 1990s, Cancer noted At/2012/0017,AT /2015/001. Moribund state noted A M Lane Ltd Report 5/3/2020. This Trunk now confirmed dead, no rejuvenation growth: Proposed Action : Staged reduction & removal of trunk in Autumn 2021 Secondary Trunks : Some growth after pollarding : Proposed Action : Retain & monitor health. T3 Hornbeam: Proposed action : Routine maintenance to contain height of tree : Reduce recent growth by c 10%: AT /2015
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AT/2026/0248 Decided
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AT/2026/0245 Awaiting decision
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AT/2026/0242 Granted
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AT/2026/0214 Granted
Alta Vista Higher Warberry Road Torquay TQ1 1SD
Recent emergency approved felling of two older Lime trees in next door neighbour's garden precipitated a check on our own Lime Tree sic. Precautionary Work is requested on Trunk 2 of a large mature Lime Tree in south part of our property. Sketch Plan Lime Tree position refers . The Lime tree has 4 Trunks from ground level - numbering from left to right in provided Photo Lime Tree 1 of 4 Trunk 2. Photo Lime Tree 2 of 4 shows vis discoloration separation of Trunk 2 from Trunk 3. Separation >=12cm August 2026. No previous measurement. Photo Lime Tree 3 of 4 shows southern inclination of Trunk 2 and extended southern branch growth giving increasing weight leverage/imbalance. Photo Lime Tree 4 of 4 shows extent of recent years Beefsteak fungus at base of Trunk 2 - width c 25cms August 2026. Condition of Lime Tree discussed on site with Jamie, Trees in Need who has managed bi-annually maintenance on our trees for c 20 years. Fungal infection currently appears to be on Trunk 2 base but Trunk 2 is closely twinned with Trunk 3 at this level. Trunk 3 is however largely vertical and foliage more balanced and therefore less at longer term risk. So Imminent/emergency danger of Trunk 2 failure not likely but following precautionary action suggested Requested permission for following Action for Trunk 2. Remove all top growth c 6/7 meter level as show in Photo Lime Tree 3 where extended South lateral growth is prominent to provide a largely vertical Trunk with reduced weight /leverage . Continue to monitor Trunk 2 & 3 separation and Fungal growth.