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Planning application

Villa St Christopher Hesketh Road Torquay TQ1 2LN

Awaiting decision Torbay AT/2026/0226 Works To Tree Within TPO

Works: Trees

Still open. Anyone can comment while the consultation period runs, and comments go to the council rather than to us.

Proposal

T1 ? Horse Chestnut: Fell to ground level. The tree is growing directly on top of a loose, failing stone wall, with roots displacing the structure and voids forming beneath the root plate. The wall no longer provides stable support, and the tree stands on a slope where any failure would directly target the adjacent house and garden. The tree is far younger than the established 1973 Tree Preservation Order and does not form part of the original protected stock. Removal is a proportionate risk-based intervention to prevent further structural displacement and foreseeable harm to property. T2 ? Oak: Repollard to previous pollard points. The tree is an established pollard requiring cyclical management to maintain structural stability. A bracket fungus of the genus Ganoderma is present on the stem, indicating internal decay. Repollarding will reduce lever-arm length and end-weight, mitigating risk while retaining the existing pollard framework. All cuts will be made back to existing knuckles in accordance with BS3998:2010.

As published by the council, reference AT/2026/0226

Application record

Reference
AT/2026/0226
Type
Works To Tree Within TPO
Status
Registered
Received
20 Aug 2026
Validated
25 Aug 2026
Ward
Wellswood
Decision by
Delegated
Postcode
TQ1 2LN

Timeline

Dates from the published record

  1. 20 Aug 2026

    Received by Torbay

  2. 25 Aug 2026

    Validated

    Checked as complete and ready for consideration.

  3. 2 Sep 2026

    Added to PlanIndex

  4. Decision

    Awaiting decision

    Decision expected by 20 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 62 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 documents

What happens while it is decided

The process from here

This application is with Torbay for determination. The council publicises it, consults neighbours and technical bodies where required, and weighs the responses against local and national planning policy.

The statutory target is eight weeks for most applications and thirteen for major development, though extensions of time are common. Comments carry most weight while the case is undecided, so check the council portal for the deadline if you want to respond.

About trees applications

How this application type works

Tree applications cover work to protected trees: those under a tree preservation order need consent for pruning or felling, and trees in a conservation area need six weeks written notice before work starts. The council assesses the amenity value of the tree and can refuse consent, approve it with conditions, or in conservation areas make a preservation order in response.

More on trees applications in our guide

Nearby applications

Within 500 metres

  • Kennett House Lincombe Drive Torquay TQ1 2LP

    AT/2026/0036 Submitted 23 Jan 2026 65m away

    T1 - Large post mature Horse Chestnut situated on the Eastern boundary, adjacent to Hesketh Road Steps. The tree shed it's lowest primary limb in July 2025 blocking the public steps. This has left the tree with large limbs to the East exposed to potential failure from adverse weather, presenting a further risk to the public. Works - Re-pollard at the historic pollard points (approximately 10m) - See annotated photographs.

    Granted Trees
    Small domestic
  • Holmwood Lincombe Drive Torquay TQ1 2LP

    AT/2021/0203 Submitted 4 Jun 2021 80m away

    Eucalyptus (T1) - fell because of extensive decay within the lower part of the stem. Tree targeting house and car park for local residents. Two neighbouring trees Oak and Magnolia will benefit from lack of competition. Leylandii (T2) - fell because of slenderness and asymmetrical crown overlapping neighbouring ornamental palm. Replant with Common Hornbeam. The tree is not visible to the wider public. Sweet Chestnut (T3) - 2 metres crown reduction because of slenderness occurring on the crooked stem, decay and hollow within the lower part of the stem. The tree is not visible to the wider public.

    Granted Trees 4 docs
  • Flat 14 Royal Pines Hesketh Road Torquay TQ1 2LN

    AT/2026/0107 Submitted 14 Apr 2026 81m away

    T863 Monterey pine - fell

    Granted Trees
  • Osborne Hotel Hesketh Crescent Torquay TQ1 2LL

    P/2019/1342 Submitted 18 Dec 2019 95m away

    Installation of flat section stainless steel posts on balcony decks and connect to existing balustrade and shelter posts. Installation of stainless steel rods and high tensioned cables.

    Withdrawn Heritage and listed buildings 25 docs
  • Rozel Middle Lincombe Road Torquay TQ1 2NF

    AT/2026/0001 Submitted 5 Jan 2026 140m away

    T1 - Mimosa - Reduce height to previous pruning points 8m Approx (see annotated photo) and shape accordingly. Consider as cyclical works on a 3 year basis, due to poor form from previous works. G2 - Post-mature group of Portuguese Laurels - Coppice all stems to a height of 2m - So can be managed as a group of "trimmed shrubs" by the 'in-house' gardening team going forwards

    Refused Trees
  • South Ridge Middle Lincombe Road Torquay TQ1 2NE

    AT/2026/0233 Submitted 28 Aug 2026 155m away

    81% historically approved · decision due ~27 Oct

    T1 - cedar. Reduce the lateral spread/end-loading on 3 x low limbs on the west side of the tree by 2.5m, from 9.5m to 7m.

    Awaiting decision Trees

In Torbay

  • AT/2026/0171 Granted

    2 High Grove Sunbury Hill Torquay TQ1 3ED

    Trim branch's back slightly from touching our property and roof space to stop damage and further accidents from happening. Silver Birch Tree Pruning Reduce the branches that are hanging over the roof and gutter. Cut back to appropriate growth points. Tree will be climbed and rigged down. By cutting away from gutters and roof - it should reduce future damage to the property. All work to be carried out by qualified and insured arborists. All waste to be removed responsibly and under license.

    8 Jul 2026 Trees
  • AT/2026/0216 Granted

    Brantwood Rowdens Road Torquay TQ2 5AZ

    All trees 1-6 to be removed completely, most are not identifiable as they are completely dead. All trees below an approximate height of twelve meters, and we wish to remove them as they are dead. We also want to remove the dead foliage on the slope to the side of the property, and cut back growth to a manageable condition for future maintenance. I have not been able to find specific tree preservation numbers for the trees 1-6 but I understand we are located in a conservation area and have therefor submitted this application.

    13 Aug 2026 Trees
  • AT/2026/0233 Awaiting decision

    South Ridge Middle Lincombe Road Torquay TQ1 2NE

    T1 - cedar. Reduce the lateral spread/end-loading on 3 x low limbs on the west side of the tree by 2.5m, from 9.5m to 7m.

    28 Aug 2026 Trees
  • AT/2026/0234 Awaiting decision

    12 Mena Park Close Paignton TQ4 7TA

    T1 Leyland cypress T2 Spruce We would like to fell both these trees, the spruce is cladded in ivy and poor form. The Leyland Cypress is again of poor form and completely over powering this garden. To replace these with Beech trees would make sense.

    28 Aug 2026 Trees
  • AT/2026/0166 Granted

    3 Roundham Road Paignton Torbay TQ4 6EZ

    Oak T 1 - Reduce lateral crown spread over the roof by up to 1. 1.5m, targeting only branches encroaching towards the property. Works to follow BS 3998: 2010 principles: retain natural form, prune back to suitable secondary growth, avoid creating large wounds, and maintain a balanced crown shape. The crown is in direct contact with the roofline, causing abrasion, debris accumulation, and increased maintenance needs. A modest reduction restores safe clearance while retaining the tree's amenity value. Oak T 2 and T 3 - Pollard the tree at an appropriate height to manage structural decline associated with Ganoderma. Retain a stable framework of sound scaffold branches; cuts to be made at suitable points to allow future cyclical management. All works to follow BS 3998: 2010 and be proportionate to the tree's condition and location. The tree shows signs consistent with Ganoderma decay, reducing structural reliability. Pollarding is a recognised BS 3998 management option for declining trees where retention is desirable but full crown load is no longer appropriate. This approach prolongs safe retention, reduces risk, and avoids premature removal. Cedar T 4 - Remove deadwood =40mm diameter and any unstable smaller deadwood throughout the crown. Deadwood is present in the crown, posing a risk to the garden and adjacent access areas. Beech G 1 - Lift branches over the road to a minimum height of 5.2m (standard UK highway clearance for vehicle routes). Lift branches over the pavement to a minimum height of 2.1m (standard pedestrian clearance). Where applicable, lift branches over cycleways to 2.5?m. Remove or shorten only those branches that obstruct safe passage or visibility, in accordance with Highways Act 1980 s 154. Pruning to follow BS 3998: 2010 prune to suitable secondary growth points, avoid excessive thinning, and retain group structure. The Beech group is producing low lateral growth that obstructs the public highway, affecting safe pedestrian and vehicle move

    30 Jun 2026 Trees