Agenda item

To consider the confirmation of the Elton Street East, Wallsend Tree Preservation Order 2020.

The Committee gave consideration as to whether to confirm the making of the Elton Street East, Wallsend Tree Preservation Order 2020.

The Council had been notified of the intention to remove trees from the site of development proposals for a medical centre on Elton Street East, Wallsend. In response the Council had decided to make a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) to protect the trees. The TPO was served on those people with an interest in the land in December 2020. The planning application for the medical centre (20/01582/FUL) was approved on 16 February 2021 with conditions for the replacement of five trees allowing for 6 trees to be removed during the development with five trees being retained.

One objection to the TPO had been received on behalf of Assure Aspire Ltd, the applicants seeking planning permission for the medical centre. The objection was on the grounds that due process has not been followed by the Council in serving the TPO on people with an interest in the land, the trees were not of a suitable quality to warrant retention and the TPO would render the development of the medical centre as undeliverable with a negative impact on the redevelopment of Wallsend town centre.

The Committee gave consideration to the objection together with the comments of the planning officers and the Council’s landscape architect before deciding whether to:

a)    confirm the TPO without modification;

b)    confirm the TPO with the modifications set out in an appendix to the planning officers report to the Committee to reflect the terms of the granting of planning permission for the medical centre which permitted the removal of 6 trees and was conditional on the retention of 5 trees and the replacement of 5 trees; or

c)    not to confirm the TPO.

Resolved that the Elton Street East, Wallsend Tree Preservation Order 2020 be confirmed with the modifications set out in an appendix to the planning officers report.

(Reason for decision: The Committee were satisfied it was necessary to confirm the Order with modifications to maintain and safeguard the contribution made by the remaining trees on the site to the landscape and visual amenity of the area and to reflect the terms of the grant of planning permission for the medical centre. Furthermore the Committee were satisfied that due process had been followed in serving the TPO on persons with an interest in the land.)