Sycamore crown lift at 3 Ashurst Road, Maidstone
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Maidstone Planning Committee on 21 May 2026.
What was proposed
The application sought to crown-lift a protected sycamore to five metres, giving clearance from a lamp and improving limited footpath lighting.
“RELEVANT PLANNING HISTORY Planning: 25/505180/TDD - 1 no Sycamore-subject to TPO 3 of 1971- Crown Lift to give lighting to footpath (obstructing lamp) - 07.01.2026 26/500895/TPOA - Tree Preservation Order application: T1 Sycamore - Crown lift to 5m (to give clearance of lamp). Currently limited lighting on the footpath. - Pending Decision. Enforcement: None Appeals: None…”
Officer report
The tree and its setting
The semi-mature sycamore stands beside a public footpath near No.13 Ashurst Road, and its good condition is affected by partial contact with a streetlight.
“MAIN REPORT 1. DESCRIPTION OF TREES 1.01 The Sycamore is located adjacent to No.13 Ashhurst Road. The land on which the sycamore is situated is split by a public footpath on MBC landownership K404738. The Sycamore is formed by one principal stem and is semi-mature in age. The structural and physiological condition of the tree is good, but there is partial crown interference with an adjacent streetlight as photographed below.”
Officer report
Why officers supported it
Officers considered the work acceptable because reducing the crown around the streetlight would maintain clear public footpath lighting without harming the tree’s amenity value or lifespan.
“Works will not be detrimental to the trees amenity value or retention span. The crown of T1 Sycamore is in contact with the streetlight, and therefore the reduction of the crown around the streetlight is deemed to be acceptable arboricultural works to maintain clear lighting to the public footpath below. RECOMMENDATION 9.01 Application Permitted – Subject to the following CONDITIONS / REASONS and INFORMATIVES. Approved Works:”
Officer report
The committee vote
The committee granted permission unanimously, with 13 votes in favour, no votes against and no abstentions.
“RESOLVED: That permission be granted subject to the condition and informatives set out in the report with an additional informative to retain the wood on site for biodiversity net gain.”
Minutes
Sources
- Maidstone Planning Committee minutes, 21 May 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Maidstone's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Committee
- Maidstone Planning Committee
- Council
- Maidstone
- Date
- Thursday 21 May 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- View application →
- All decisions
- Maidstone committee decisions →
This committee's year
77 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 6 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.