Richmond upon Thames/PA26/3388

Location

Approximate location

Proposal

Robinia: Fell to ground level and remove. Planning and Arboricultural Justification The Robinia stands in a particularly confined front garden where growing and rooting space is substantially restricted by the dwelling, boundary features, hard surfacing and associated residential infrastructure. The tree has reached a scale disproportionate to the available space, resulting in an increasingly unsatisfactory relationship between the tree, the host property and the streetscape. The principal justification for removal is not structural subsidence, for which no engineering evidence is presently available. It is the long-term incompatibility of a vigorous, potentially large-growing species with a highly constrained residential setting. The tree is very close to the dwelling and occupies a restricted rooting environment. Its present size and future growth potential place continued pressure on the garden space, hard landscape and residential infrastructure, and materially restrict practical use of the front garden. Cyclical pruning is not a satisfactory long-term solution. Robinia can respond vigorously to substantial crown reduction by producing strong secondary growth, so repeated pruning would require frequent intervention simply to maintain an acceptable relationship with the built environment. Retention through repeated substantial pruning would perpetuate the existing conflict rather than resolve it. Richmond Council's published guidance recognises that large trees too close to buildings or structures can create an unreasonable relationship, and the Local Plan seeks a harmonious relationship between trees and their surroundings. The proposal seeks a more appropriate and sustainable balance between tree cover and the scale of the site. The owner has also experienced practical consequences, including repeated leaf accumulation and drainage blockages, significant ongoing maintenance and the loss of usable space in an already very small front garden. Neighbouring residents have raised concerns about the tree's scale and proximity. Removal would allow replanting with a species of more appropriate ultimate size and habit, providing continued tree cover and amenity without recreating the present spatial conflict. It is therefore proposed that the Robinia be removed and, if the Local Planning Authority considers it necessary, replaced with a suitably selected smaller-growing tree positioned to establish an appropriate long-term relationship with the dwelling, neighbouring properties and the streetscene.

Key dates

1. Received 5 Oct 2026
2. Validated 14 Oct 2026
3. Started 14 Oct 2026

Planning history / related applications

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