Lewisham/DC/24/138231

Location

Approximate location

Proposal

REAR: ONE Oak (T3, TPO T1)(ht.15m) FELL. Reason: subsidence at 56 Vicars Hill, replacement proposed with a standard-sized Silver birch tree.The London Borough of Lewisham (56 Vicars Hill, London SE13 7JL) Tree Preservation Order 2024.Informative A: submitted investigation reports conclude damage appears due to volume change in underlying clay soil which likely started during extreme temperatures summer 2022, other factors include the steeply sloping site, foundations not to current NHBC guidelines, influence of the rear garden oak (T3,TPO T1), nearby works, frequent ground water run-off from the adjacent Hilly Fields which has recently ceased, and comparison of soil moisture with depths at front and rear indicates little change to result in differential movement which could indicate that the TPO oak tree at the rear is not the controlling factor, and alternative to felling the rear oak the damaged structure could be underpinned. Informative B: a heave risk assessment should be carried out before any tree works are undertaken.Informative C: a replacement tree is a condition of the decision notice, (see below) with species to be selected from birch, holly, Gleditsia, hornbeam - from NHBC 4.2.4 low water demand tree list. Informative D: please create habitat log piles with arisings for wildlife and biodiversity.Condition: Replace with nursery standard tree, ht.2m, species to be selected from birch, holly, Gleditsia, hornbeam - from NHBC 4.2.4 low water demand tree list.

Key dates

1. Received 21 Nov 2024
2. Validated 21 Nov 2024
3. Started 21 Nov 2024
4. Decided 20 Mar 2025

Planning history / related applications

No related planning applications have been identified in the current public OGL dataset.