Eleven trees saved after ‘shocking’ plans to cut them down withdrawn

Lambeth council has confirmed that a planning application to fell 11 trees in Clapham Park has been withdrawn.

The plan was branded “extreme”, “shocking” and “inadequate” by residents.

The trees were subject to a Tree Preservation Order but were set to be cut down under a planning application as part of plans to remove cladding from a building owned by a housing association at 44 Clarence Avenue.

The planning application was subject to 22 objections from residents and Lib Dem councillor Donna Harris, who submitted a request to “call-in” the planning application.

Lambeth council officers confirmed it met representatives from the developer Wates this week and advised them that the application failed to justify cutting down the trees

Wates has now withdrawn the planning application and plan to find alternative construction solutions to minimise the loss of protected trees.

It will submit a revised planning application to remove the cladding in due course.

Cllr Harris, leader of the Lambeth Lib Dem group, said: “I’m delighted that we’ve been able to work with residents to successfully block this planning application, which would have seen so many established trees felled only to make way for temporary scaffolding.

“Clearly the works at Clapham Park to remove dangerous cladding are needed, but the original plans from the developer were poor and they now will have to go back to the drawing board and come up with a better solution.”

Pictured top: The trees that have been saved in Clarence Avenue (Picture: Cllr Harris)