Proposed Development at the Walled Garden Belaugh Green Lane Coltishall Norfolk
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Arboricultural Report Proposed development at The Walled Garden Belaugh Green Lane Coltishall Norfolk 3rd February 2020 Walled Garden Coltishall - Arboricultural Report v1.3 Client & Site Mike Chapman Walled Garden 5 Cousens Close North Walsham Coltishall Norfolk NR28 0FW Planning authority Broadland District Council Thorpe Lodge 1 Yarmouth Road Norwich Norfolk NR7 0DU Document Arboricultural Report Version 1.3 (revised 7th August 2020) Date 3rd February 2020 Author Ben Hogben BSc Hons, Dip Surv (Rural), MICFor Reviewer BH Trees and Woodlands Consultancy Limited 299 Wroxham Road Norwich Norfolk NR7 8RN www.bhtrees.co.uk 7th August 2020 2 Walled Garden Coltishall - Arboricultural Report v1.3 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 Conclusions 12 7 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 Arboricultural Method Statement Appendix F Tree Protection Plan 7th August 2020 3 Walled Garden Coltishall - Arboricultural Report v1.3 Summary • This report provides the results of a tree survey of land at The Walled Garden, Belaugh Green Lane, Coltishall Norfolk NR12 7AJ and an arboricultural constraints assessment of the site, which may be used to inform the planning process. • The local planning authority is Broadland District Council and communication with the Council’s planning department confirms that a Tree Preservation Order affects oak trees in the middle of the field which stand beyond any impacts of the development and that the site stands partly within, and adjacent to, the Coltishall Conservation Area. • There are several high quality category “A” trees on the site, and a number of young promising specimens awarded category “B”. • The proposed access road will employ a No-Dig construction method to avoid impacts on retained tree roots. • No trees are proposed for removal to make space for the proposed development. • Recommended root protection areas are mapped in this report. No construction activities will take place within root protection areas, except as indicated in the detailed method statement. • We consider that development can be accommodated with minimal impacts on the retained arboricultural interest of the site. 7th August 2020 4 Walled Garden Coltishall - Arboricultural Report v1.3 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. BH Trees and Woodland Consultancy Ltd has been commissioned to prepare an arboricultural report for land at The Walled Garden, Belaugh Green Lane, Coltishall, Norfolk NR12 7AJ. 1.2. Access to the site was gained at approximate grid reference TG 28271 19846. 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 for the development requirements, 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. 7th August 2020 5 Walled Garden Coltishall - Arboricultural Report v1.3 3. DESKTOP REVIEW 3.1 The proposed development site is located in the village of Coltishall, situated on the River Bure on edge of The Broads Authority Area. It is situated some 7.5 miles north of Norwich and 2.5 miles west of Wroxham. 3.2 The development proposal is for a new private access drive from Belaugh Green Lane to The Walled Garden where a new house is to be built. 3.3 The local planning authority is authority is Broadland District Council and communication with the Council’s planning department confirms that a Tree Preservation Order affects oak trees in the middle of the field which stand beyond any impacts of the development and that the site stands partly within and adjacent to the Coltishall Conservation Area. The site Figure 1. Site location 7th August 2020 6 Walled Garden Coltishall - Arboricultural Report v1.3 4. FIELD STUDY 4.1. The proposed driveway crosses land currently in agricultural use as an arable field and the walled garden has long since lost its original purpose, although the wall remains. 4.2. The site has a heavily wooded character. It is surrounded on three sides by woodland and by low density development to the south. The arable field within which it is set has a parkland feel owing to the mature trees within the field. 4.3. There are some good quality mature oak trees within the hawthorn hedge along Belaugh Green Lane on the eastern boundary. Along the southern boundary a recent hedge and semi-mature planting contains a number of promising oak and walnut trees. On approaching the walled garden there are several mature trees mostly on adjacent land but also a very large beech tree with further trees surrounding the walled garden itself. 4.4. The soils in this area are freely draining, slightly acid, loamy soils and thus of low fertility and moderately resistant to compaction. The site stands in The Broads National Character Area (NCA 77): “The Broads National Character Area (NCA) is situated on the eastern edge of East Anglia and is located predominantly in the county of Norfolk together with a small part of north Suffolk, between the peripheral urban areas of Norwich in the west and Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft in the east. Some 94 per cent of the NCA is open country and the remaining 6 per cent is urban. Its boundary follows the edge of the level, open marshland and valleys drained by the three principal rivers, the Yare, Bure and Waveney, and their tributaries, the Thurne, Ant, Wensum and Chet, giving the NCA its very distinctive shape. The rivers flow east into the sheltered estuary of Breydon Water, which lies at the confluence to the Broads river system. The whole area has become known for the shallow lakes, referred to as ‘broads’ that are contained within the river valleys. These broads are the effect of medieval excavations of peat that became flooded as sea levels rose. Since the 1950s the network of navigable rivers and areas of open water has assured that the Broads is a popular tourism and recreation destination, principally for boating holidays, attracting over 7 million visitors annually.” 4.5. The site is adjacent to the public road thus any development will be partly visible to the public, however the surrounding hedgerows largely screen the development, such that broader landscape impact will be minimal. 7th August 2020 7 Figure 2: Tree Survey Walled Garden Coltishall - Arboricultural Report v1.3 Figure 3: Tree Constraints Plan 7th August 2020 9 Walled Garden Coltishall - Arboricultural Report v1.3 5 ASSESSMENT OF ARBORICULTURAL IMPLICATIONS 5.1 The trees likely to be affected on the site are plotted on a plan shown in Figure 2 above and their quality assessment according to the grading categories stipulated in the British Standard. A schedule of the detailed survey data is reproduced in a table at appendix A. 5.2 The new driveway will access through the field entrance between T1 and T2. The driveway then runs along the inside of the hedgerow along Belaugh Green Lane before turning to the North West to follow the boundary to approach to the walled garden. This follows the headland which has been regularly used for vehicular access for many years and is compacted through use. A Minimal Dig construction method will be adopted. 5.3 The semi-mature trees in the neighbouring property to the south are promising specimens and are awarded a Category B. There is no anticipated impact on the current RPA. These trees will of course grow much bigger and may require thinning out in due course. The remaining trees and hedges on the neighbouring properties to the south are awarded a mix of Category B and low quality Category C grading and most are beyond any impact. Category C trees generally would not constrain development. The cascade chart for tree quality assessment from BS5837:2012 is reproduced in appendix D. 5.4 No trees are required to be removed to make space for the development. However, it is recommended that the sycamore T27 be removed before it causes damage to the wall. 5.5 The main development is at some distance from the public road and screened by the roadside hedge and it is anticipated that there will be no significant landscape impacts from the proposals. 5.6 Table 1 –Quality assessment of trees recorded in survey in accordance with BS5837:2012 TOTALS To be removed Trees Groups Hedges Category U 0 0 0 0 0 Category A 4 0 0 4 0 Category B 16 1 0 17 0 Category C 4 0 2 6 0 TOTALS 24 1 2 27 0 Walled Garden Coltishall - Arboricultural Report v1.3 Tree Work 5.7 No tree work is currently required.