North Kensington residents “devastated” over developers plans to fell 37 trees

By Julia Gregory, Local Democracy Reporter

Residents said they are “devastated” at plans to fell trees on a North Kensington estate – despite an appeal for developers to think again.

Last month residents from the Wornington estate told Kensington and Chelsea Council about their distress as 37 trees on the Wornington Green estate were due to be felled.  They also handed in a petition signed by 1,000 people.

Film-maker Constantine Gras said: “We are devastated.

“They said they will move some trees but it still does not make up for such a loss.”

Housing association Catalyst Housing Group won planning permission to cut trees down ten years ago as part of a scheme to completely redevelop the estate and build new homes for residents.

Catalyst said it had worked with residents to reduce the number of trees it planned to remove from 42 to 37.

Current Kensington and Chelsea councillors have said they regretted the decision taken a decade ago and pledged to work with Catalyst to save as many trees as possible.

Catalyst  told the council it would never move trees without good reason.

Keith Stirling moved into the estate in the 60s. He said: “As one of the oldest residents on the estate, it’s a crying shame that no other way could have been found to save the 37 trees. “

He added: “It’s a terrible time to be doing this during a pandemic when we need fresh air.”

And Grace Zikpi added: “I am extremely disappointed Catalyst have ignored residents’ concerns and will still go ahead and cut down 37 trees. I am appalled and saddened with their decision.

Another resident, Christine Dingle, said: “In this climate of world pollution, it’s sacrilege to even think about removing well established and beautiful trees. All we need is the air that we breathe and to love them. “

The work is part of an overall plan to build 1,000 homes, with 538 of them for social rent.

The current work is part of the second phase to build  230 new homes, including 108 for social rent.

After listening to residents last month councillor Marie Therese Rossi who chairs the overview and scrutiny committee said: “Something has gone very badly wrong here.”

“You got planning permission which by the sounds of it you got by the skin of your teeth.”

She urged Catalyst to think again.

In a letter sent to residents Catalyst explained it will start felling trees from January 25 ahead of the nesting season.

In it Catalyst said: “As part of ongoing dialogue with RBKC, we have committed to working further to reduce the number of trees we remove, and we will keep the local community updated on this work as we agree it.”

The work is likely to take a week.

Regeneration manager Fearghal O’Hara told residents that the plan has been amended and two mature trees which were set to be removed are now staying.

Another three London plane trees will be moved elsewhere in the estate and an extra 14 semi-mature London planes will be planted in the public area on the estate. Overall Catalyst said it had increased the number of trees from 55 to 69 and said it designs round trees where possible.

Mr O’ Hara wrote that there will be some noise as the work gets underway from power tools and machinery.

He said: “We appreciate that many residents will be at home more than usual at the moment due to lockdown, and we apologise in advance for this disruption. It is important that we begin the work as soon as possible in order to avoid the bird nesting season.”

Catalyst said: “We absolutely understand residents’ concerns particularly at the moment when people are spending more time at home and access to local green space is more important than ever.

“In response to these concerns we have increased the number of trees we are retaining and the number of new trees we will plant as part of this phase and have committed to planting more semi-mature trees rather than saplings.”

Councillor Johnny Thalassites, Lead member for Planning, Place and Environment, said:

“Protecting our local environment is important to us and our residents so I’m disappointed that Catalyst haven’t gone further to save more of the mature trees.

“This development will provide much needed homes for our borough and it is good to see that Catalyst Housing have made some efforts to move and keep more trees than originally planned and to plant semi-mature trees rather than saplings.

“We will keep working with them to make sure there is an overall positive contribution to our local environment during the next phase of development.”

Pictured top: Constantine Gras with one of the threatened trees