Proposed Development at Langmere Lakes Old Church Road Frettenham Norfolk
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Arboricultural Report Proposed development at Langmere Lakes Old Church Road Frettenham Norfolk 8th November 2018 1 Arboricultural Report - Langmere Lakes Frettenham v1.0 Client Mr. Mark Foster Langmere Lakes Old Church Road Frettenham Norwich Norfolk NR10 3BP Planning authority Broadland District Council Thorpe Lodge 1 Yarmouth Road Thorpe St Andrew Norwich NR7 0DU Document Arboricultural Report Version 1.0 Date 8th November 2018 Author Ben Hogben BSc Hons, Dip Surv (Rural), MICFor Reviewer Etienne Swarts B Compt (Hons) F Deg Sc ACIEEM Greenlight Environmental Consultancy Limited Diss Business Hub Hopper Way Diss Norfolk IP22 4GT 8th November 2018 2 Arboricultural Report - Langmere Lakes Frettenham v1.0 Table of Contents Page Summary 4 1 Introduction 5 2 Methodology 5 3 Desktop review 6 4 Field study 7 5 Arboricultural Implications Assessment 10 6 Arboricultural Method Statement 11 7 Conclusions 12 8 Bibliography 12 Appendix A Tree survey detail Appendix B Photographic record of selected trees Appendix C Default Specification for Protective Barrier Appendix D BS 5837:2012 Table 1 Cascade chart for tree quality assessment Appendix E Proposed layout 8th November 2018 3 Arboricultural Report - Langmere Lakes Frettenham v1.0 Summary • This report provides the results of a tree survey of land at Langmere Lakes, Old Church Road, Frettenham, Norwich, Norfolk and an arboricultural constraints assessment of the site, and may be used to inform the planning process. • The local planning authority is the Broadland District Council and communication with the Council’s Planning Department confirms that there are no Tree Preservation Orders in the vicinity and that there is no Conservation Area in this part of Frettenham. • One small tree and some scrub hawthorn is to be removed to make sufficient space for the development and a moribund ash tree is given a “U” quality category and will also be removed. No further tree removal will be required. • For the new access road, it is recommended that where encroachment into an RPA occurs, a No Dig construction technique is employed. • Recommended root protection areas are mapped in this report. No construction activities should take place within root protection areas, except as indicated in the detailed method statement. • Based on the proposed site plan and recommended tree protection measures, we consider that the development can be accommodated with minimal impacts on the arboricultural interest of the site. 8th November 2018 4 Arboricultural Report - Langmere Lakes Frettenham v1.0 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Greenlight Environmental Consultancy Ltd has been commissioned to prepare an arboricultural report for land at Langmere Lakes, Old Church Road, Frettenham, Norwich, Norfolk. 1.2. The proposals are for the extension of Langmere Lake Holiday Park, including the creation of seven new lodges along the south-west aspect of Rowan Pond. Please refer to Appendix E for the proposed plans. 1.3. The report includes a survey of those trees that may be affected and an assessment of the potential arboricultural impact of the proposed development on the trees. 2. METHODOLOGY 2.1. The tree survey and arboricultural aspects have been prepared in accordance with recommendations provided in BS 5837:2012, Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction – recommendations. 2.2. The site survey included trees, within the boundaries of the site and those considered to be potentially affected by development proposals, with a stem diameter over 75mm at 1.5m height. 2.3. The tree inspection took place from ground level using visual tree assessment methods, with the use of binoculars and Suunto clinometer. The presence and condition of bark and stem wounds, cavities, decay, fungal fruiting bodies and any structural defects that could increase the risk of structural failure were noted. 2.4. Details for each tree were recorded with management recommendations if deemed necessary, a category grading according to BS 5837:2012, and tree protection distance. Constraints 2.5. No internal decay devices or other invasive tools to assess tree condition were used. 2.6. No soil excavation or root inspection was carried out. 2.7. The survey has not considered the effect that trees or vegetation may have on the structural integrity of future building through subsidence or heave. 8th November 2018 5 Arboricultural Report - Langmere Lakes Frettenham v1.0 3. DESKTOP REVIEW 3.1 The proposed site for development is located on the edge of the parish of Frettenham in a remote rural location. Frettenham is located six miles north-east of Norwich, surrounded by countryside. The village is well known for its rich farmland. 3.2 The development site extends to approximately 10,000m2 of which much is open water. The current land use is rough grassland, an area kept clear of weed and scrub regrowth by regular mowing and contrasts with the heavily managed grass lawns around the existing chalets. It is intended that the existing access off Old Church Road at approximate NGR TG 24069 19818 will be used. 3.3 The local planning authority is Broadland District Council and communication with the Council’s Planning Department confirms that there are no Tree Preservation Orders in the vicinity and that there is no Conservation Area in this part of Frettenham. The Site Figure 1, Site location 8th November 2018 6 Arboricultural Report - Langmere Lakes Frettenham v1.0 4. FIELD STUDY 4.1 The trees on the site are plotted on a plan shown in Figure 2 below. A schedule of the detailed survey data is reproduced in a table at appendix A. 4.1. The proposal is for the construction of up to eight new holiday lodges, an access road and associated infrastructure. 4.2 The site stands in a rural location on the every edge of the village of Frettenham. The land is a disused gravel pit that has been transformed into a wildlife haven and holiday park with lodges and fishing lakes. Twenty lodges have already been erected and another eight are proposed. 4.3 The tree cover is of two main types, the boundary hedgerow with mature hedgerow oak trees which lines the southern and western boundaries, and the areas of semi mature scrub and woodland mainly bordering the fishing lake known as Rowan Pond. 4.4 The boundary hedge of mainly hawthorn is getting quite weak in places due to the domination of ivy and the shading from the hedgerow trees, as well as the great age of the hedge shrubs and a recent lack of maintenance. The hedgerow trees are mostly oak, and are generally in good condition. 4.5 The area of scrub at the northern end of the site appears to be naturally established and is mainly hawthorn but also contains some blackthorn, sallow, oak and much bramble. The woodland fringe to Rowan Pond is an excellent mixture of oak, silver birch, hornbeam, goat willow, crab apple, ash and pine. There is also a good variety in age classes represented, which also offers good structural diversity. 4.6 There are very restricted views onto the site from the public road to the west, however an earth bund limits views and provides a barrier to noise pollution. The hedge beyond the bund is patchy. The new lodges will be largely obscured by the existing hedge and tree cover. It is considered that the proposed development would cause minimal visual intrusion provided care is taken with the design. 8th November 2018 7 Figure 2: Tree Survey 8 Arboricultural Report - Langmere Lakes Frettenham v1.0 Figure 3: Tree Constraints Plan 8th November 2018 9 5 ASSESSMENT OF ARBORICULTURAL IMPLICATIONS 5.1 The Tree Survey plan in figure 2 shows the trees found on the site and their quality assessment according to the grading categories stipulated in the British Standard. The cascade chart for tree quality assessment from BS5837:2012 is reproduced in appendix D. 5.2 There are no “high” quality category A graded trees but most are awarded a category B grading at regular intervals around the site. The scrub group and the woodland are graded “C” largely due to their young age and diverse character. The moribund ash in the south western corner is graded U and should be removed. 5.3 Only a small area of the scrub group and the leaning young oak will need to be removed in order to make sufficient space for the lodges. In general terms, the category C trees should not constrain development but it is expected that trees graded B and higher should be retained and protected for incorporation into any development of the site. 5.4 The access road is shown on the indicative layout to run close to the southern boundary and crosses the root protection areas of the hedgerow trees. It is recommended that this access road is constructed using No-Dig techniques. 5.5 The hedge along the roadside behind the earth bund is in poor condition, and would benefit from replanting into gaps and replacing some of the hedgerow trees that have been lost. Table 1 –Quality assessment of trees recorded in survey in accordance with BS5837:2012 TOTALS To be Trees Groups Hedges removed Category U 1 0 0 1 1 Category A 0 0 0 0 0 Category B 14 0 0 14 0 Category C 2 2 0 4 0 TOTALS 17 2 0 19 1 10 Arboricultural Report - Langmere Lakes Frettenham v1.0 6 ARBORICULTURAL METHOD STATEMENT Tree Work 6.1 It is recommended that the broken limb in the top of T16 be remedied the category U ash tree be removed. 6.2 Any tree work should be undertaken to the standards set out in BS 3998:2010 British Standard Recommendations for Tree Work. Tree and Root Protection – Constraints on Development 6.3 The Tree Constraints Plan in Figure 3 shows the distance that construction should normally be kept away from retained trees to provide the Root Protection Area (RPA) recommended in BS 5837: 2012.