Oakwood Lower Warberry Road Torquay TQ1 1QP

Unknown AT/2026/0120
Council
Date received
1 May 2026
Date validated
1 May 2026
Postcode
TQ1 1QP

Description

This message serves as a formal notice under the five day urgent works exemption for works to a hazardous tree within the grounds of Oakwood, Lower Warberry Road, Torquay, TQ1 1QP. A taller Sycamore within the garden has failed, with full rootplate uplift, collapsing outward across the garden and falling directly onto the smaller Sycamore, closer to the roadside but still within the garden. The impact has caused significant structural damage to the roadside tree, including crown displacement, asymmetric loading and probable fibre deformation, leaving it at increased risk of progressive failure. The damaged roadside Sycamore stands immediately above the public pavement, where no parking restrictions concentrate pedestrian movement within the potential failure zone. The combination of sudden primary failure, secondary impact trauma, and exposure to the public highway creates an immediate and unacceptable risk, bringing the works clearly within the scope of the five day urgent works exemption.

1.6/10
Planning Authority Score
#271 of 282

Torbay is one of the slowest councils in England for householder decisions, ranking #262 out of 282. 52% of applications have the time limit extended, above the 40% national average. Householder applications are slightly less likely to be approved here (88%) than the national average (90%).

Torbay decision performance
Based on MHCLG data, 2025
86%
Overall approval rate
Below avg (87%) #190 of 282
88%
Householder approved
Below avg (90%) #217 of 282
42%
Decided in 8 weeks
Below avg (71%) #262 of 282
52%
Extended time limit
Above avg (40%) #228 of 282
72%
Minor dwellings approved
54 decided (1-9 homes)
90%
Major dwellings approved
10 decided (10+ homes)
95%
Change of use approved
39 decided
533
Total decisions
77 refused in 2025