Southern Comfort Meadfoot Sea Road Torquay TQ1 2LQ Data via plota.co.uk

AT/2026/0143 - Works To Tree Within CA Pending

Proposal

I am applying to remove one large Eucalyptus nitens. This tree is growing close to the boundary with Suncourt about half-way between the highway and the house. It is in the region of 20m in height. General The garden has been carefully designed and has been noted for the variety and quality of its plants. The area around the tree is tightly planted with trees (as can be see from Drawing_01) including the following: Gleditsia triacanthos, Magnolia officinalis var biloba, Phoenix canariensis, Magnolia grandiflora, Catalpa bignionoides 'Aurea', . All these are large including the P. canariensis. There is a smaller Butia capitata and a Cornus cousa further away. In addition there are large shrubs including a Japanese maple, Tetrapanax, Viburnum and Camellia Glycerinia as a windbreak, Pseudopanax ferox as well as countless Trachycarpus fortunei. There is a large plane tree in the highway which largely screens these plantings from the roadway, especially during summer. Reasons for works 1. In common with other Eucalyptus which I have had growing in the garden and which have quite rapidly died, this tree has a large scar on its western side. The dimensions of the scar are about 1300mm by 150mm (at the widest). The inner wood is fully exposed, is soft and is discoloured. This defect is not apparent from the eastern (our) side of the tree. I have been advised that this tree will probably not survive more than another year or two. It may be relevant that a much smaller neighbouring Eucalyptus niphophila has recently fully died. 2. My neighbour in Suncourt has been telling me that he is concerned that the tree is growing too close to his boundary wall and large paved area which he fears may be damaged by its shallow roots. 3. My main concern is that the tree - given its height and exposure to winds in the Meadfoot Valley - now poses a risk by falling either onto the Southern Comfort driveway or onto the Suncourt one. It is thus constitutes a danger to persons… Data via plota.co.uk

View original council record ↗

Application progress

Received
1 Jun 2026
Decision
Awaiting decision

This application is under consideration - no decision has been issued yet.

Important details

Council
Torbay
Application type
Works To Tree Within CA
Postcode
TQ1 2LQ
Received
1 Jun 2026
Validated
1 Jun 2026
Ward
Wellswood
Case officer
Show
Decision level
Delegated
Applicant
Show

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-14966977
Env. assessment
No
Torbay
Planning Authority Score
1.9/10
Poor
#276 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Householder decisions

Torbay is one of the slowest councils in England for householder decisions, ranking #276 out of 296. 54% of applications have the time limit extended, above the 41% national average. Householder applications are slightly more likely to be approved here (90%) than the national average (90%).

Among the slowest councils in England
for householder decisions
These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
Torbay decision performance
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
87%
Overall approval rate
Above avg (87%) #183 of 296
90%
Householder approved
Above avg (90%) #197 of 296
37%
Decided in 8 weeks
Below avg (63%) #276 of 296
54%
Extended time limit
Above avg (41%) #247 of 296
81%
Minor dwellings approved
53 decided (1-9 homes)
100%
Major dwellings approved
9 decided (10+ homes)
91%
Change of use approved
44 decided
529
Total decisions
68 refused in the year to March 2026