Planning application
Street Record North Hill Close Brixham
Works: Trees
Still open. Anyone can comment while the consultation period runs, and comments go to the council rather than to us.
Proposal
Ash T1 stands within the communal frontage of North Hill Close, near residential buildings, parking bays, and pedestrian access routes. The tree?s position creates a high-value target zone where any structural failure would directly affect dwellings and regularly used areas. Under NTSG principles, this level of occupancy significantly increases the consequence of failure. Fraxinus excelsior is now widely affected by Hymenoscyphus fraxineus across Torbay and the wider region. T1 shows declining vitality and structural deterioration consistent with early?mid stage pathogen impact, including progressive crown dieback, sparse foliage, deadwood throughout the crown, brittle branch behaviour, and reduced adaptive growth. These signs are consistent with early?mid stage Ash Dieback. These defects reduce structural reliability and increase the likelihood of partial or whole-tree failure. Given the tree?s location, foreseeable risk, and species-specific decline trajectory, pruning would not provide meaningful long-term mitigation. Removal is the only proportionate intervention. A suitable replacement (e.g., Sorbus aria or Carpinus betulus) can be planted within the frontage to maintain canopy continuity.
As published by the council, reference AT/2026/0215
Application record
- Reference
- AT/2026/0215
- Type
- Works To Tree Within TPO
- Status
- Registered
- Received
- 12 Aug 2026
- Validated
- 20 Aug 2026
- Ward
- Furzeham With Summercombe
- Decision by
- Delegated
Timeline
Dates from the published record
-
12 Aug 2026
Received by Torbay
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20 Aug 2026
Validated
Checked as complete and ready for consideration.
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23 Aug 2026
Added to PlanIndex
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Decision
Awaiting decision
Decision expected by 15 October 2026, 8 weeks from validation under the statutory target for most applications. Extensions of time are common and are agreed case by case.
Torbay took a median of 61 days over the applications it decided in the last year.
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 happens while it is decided
This application is with Torbay for determination, against a statutory target of eight weeks. Over the last year Torbay decided tree works applications in a median of 50 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.
Other tree works applications
In Torbay
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AT/2026/0177 Granted
Rowcroft Hospice Ellas Gardens Avenue Road Torquay TQ2 5LS
All relevant photos included in report. T009 -Scots pine - In striking distance of service road, tree is dead. - Fell tree T10 - Common ash - Tree is on edge of service road, growing out of bank. Tree is entirely dead and in striking distance of road. - Fell tree T015 - Generally good health. No funding or cavities at the base. No obvious signs of decay in main stem. Four large hanging limbs directly over the footpath on the south side of canopy at 15m - Remove hanging and snapped limbs over footpath T020 - Tree is situated in maintained lawn with circular bench around base. Tree is in generally good health. One snapped large limb at 13m on eastern side of the canopy, in striking distance of bench area. - Remove snapped limb at 13m on eastern side of canopy. T028 - Tree is situated on edge of entrance road, in striking distance of third party property and road. No cavities or fungal fruiting bodies found at base. No evidence of decay. Tree appears to be in good health. Moderate deadwood in canopy over road. One large hanging branch directly over road at 11m on eastern side. - Remove hanging limb over road.
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AT/2026/0194 Decided
Cedars House Cedars Road Torquay TQ1 1SB
T1 remove epicormic growth on main stem up to height of adjacent wall (2m) T2 pollard at 4.5m.
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AT/2026/0170 Refused
Flat 1 St Ives Court Furzehill Road Torquay TQ1 3JG
T001- Pine Proposed Works: Reduce the western (left-hand) lateral crown by approximately 2.0-2.5 metres back to suitable secondary growth to reduce end weight and rebalance the crown whilst retaining the tree's natural form. Remove the single lower lateral limb overhanging the garden (approximately 200mm diameter at the point of removal). Remove any dead, damaged or broken branches encountered during the works. All pruning to be undertaken in accordance with BS3998:2010 - Tree Work - Recommendations. Reason for Works: To reduce the dominance and leverage of the extended lateral limb, improve crown balance and lessen the visual impact over the garden whilst retaining the tree as a significant landscape feature. The removal of the lower limb will improve clearance beneath the canopy and facilitate ongoing garden use and maintenance. The proposed works represent routine arboricultural management and are not intended to adversely affect the long-term health or amenity value of the tree.
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AT/2026/0169 Granted
Norton Lea Solsbro Road Torquay TQ2 6PF
T001 - 1x Mature Holm Oak Reduce the height of 1x Primary stem by approximately 6.0 metres, leaving a final height of the stem at approximately 12 metres. Radial crown spread to remain un-affected at all compass points. All works shall retain the tree's main framework and natural form, maintaining a high proportion of the foliage-bearing structure. All final pruning cuts shall be made at suitable growth points in accordance with BS 3998:2010 Tree Work - Recommendations. Individual pruning wounds shall not exceed 100 mm in diameter & pruning cuts made at suitable growth points in accordance with BS 39982010 Tree Work - Recommendations. 1x Primary stem exhibiting a large tear at the union - Sectionally dismantle back to the first suitable primary union to reduce the risk of failure while retaining the remaining tree structure where practicable. Works are specified to reduce weight loading and sail area on the affected stem whilst retaining a balanced and structurally appropriate crown form. Area Tree Preservation Order & Conservation Area Justification The proposed works relate to 1x Mature Holm Oak (Quercus ilex) identified as T001. The tree forms a prominent landscape feature, and the proposed works have been carefully specified to retain the tree's overall amenity contribution, natural form, and long-term viability whilst addressing identified structural concerns within the crown structure. Arboricultural justification- One primary stem is exhibiting a significant tear and structural weakness at the union, increasing the likelihood of stem failure under continued wind loading and canopy weight. The proposed reduction and partial dismantling works are therefore considered necessary on arboricultural and safety grounds in order to reduce mechanical stress, weight loading, and sail area acting upon the affected stem which in turn will increase the likelihood of whole stem failure. The proposed works comprise the reduction in height of the affected primary
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AT/2026/0236 Decided
Briary Towers 42 Vicarage Road Torquay TQ2 6HX
Fell dead conifer