Giles Barn Alresford Road Itchen Stoke Hampshire SO24 0QZ Data via plota.co.uk

SDNP/26/04179/TCA - Tree in a Conservation Area Application in Progress

Proposal

T1 Eucalyptus in northwest corner: My neighbour and I have been growing increasingly concerned about a tree within my property, and close to her property, which is a large Eucalyptus, planted by the previous home owner. Whilst this non-native tree has been pollarded regularly by qualified professionals, it continues to grow bigger, which I am told it is typical of the species, to the point where its trunk is over 1m diameter. The main issues currently are: ? We are advised the root system of this species is typically shallow and the risk of falling is high, and increases as it ages. Should this happen, it would land on the property with catastrophic damage, but also with a significant risk to life. My neighbour?s property is close enough to also be at high risk. The tree is directly next to the footpath which for the reasons above presents another risk to the public. Extensive damage to the driveway due to the root system, much of which has had to be repaired again this year Damage to the drainage across the drive ? again, which has been repaired again this year The roots have caused the property perimeter stone wall to collapse. To repair it we are advised some roots will require cutting which will increase the risk of the tree falling. The roots have also lifted patio stones. I would appreciate your consideration to remove this tree, especially as we approach another UK winter with associated high winds and precipitation, as it is causing real concern. T2 Swedish Whitebeam in southwest corner: Request lateral crown reduction on the eastern and southern sectors only, shortening branches by up to 2m to provide 1.5m clearance from the adjacent roof, guttering and greenhouse. Sweet Gum and Silver Birch in northeast corner are crowding each other out, resulting in one-sided, highly asymmetrical canopies. Request to reduce the crown height by 6m and width by 3m of both trees (40%) to prevent them from becoming completely unviable and a structural hazard. T3 Data via plota.co.uk

View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
28 Oct 2026
Decision
Expected by 9 Dec 2026

Under consideration

No decision has been issued yet. Plota predicts a decision between 9 Dec 2026 and 17 Dec 2026, from South Downs's recent tree and landscaping works.

Site constraints 13

Grade II listed: 138 AND 139
List entry 1095320 · 29 m away · 5 more listed buildings within 150 m (5 Grade II)
Listed building consent is needed for work that affects the special interest of a listed building, inside or out, on top of planning permission. Setting can be a consideration for buildings nearby; there is no fixed radius.
Show the other 5 with distances
Historic England ↗
Nutrient neutrality catchment: Solent: Includes Chichester and Langstone Harbours SPA/Ramsar, Solent and Southampton Water SPA/Ramsar, Solent Maritime SAC, Portsmouth Harbour SPA/Ramsar
New homes and overnight accommodation must show nutrient neutrality before approval.
Natural England advice: extra wastewater in these catchments harms protected habitats, so schemes must offset their nutrient load, usually through credits.
South Downs National Park
The park authority decides applications here. Great weight to conserving the landscape; major development restricted.
Landscape, scenic beauty and wildlife carry great weight, and major development is only allowed in exceptional circumstances.
Itchen Stoke conservation area
Demolition needs planning permission and permitted development is restricted.
The council must give weight to preserving or enhancing the area's character and appearance. Not every council has published its boundaries as open data.
Heritage at risk: Itchen Stoke, Winchester (District)
On the register of historic places assessed as at risk.
A designated building, monument, park or conservation area assessed as at risk from neglect, decay or development. Proposals that secure its future are looked on favourably.
Historic England ↗
Agricultural land, grade 3a
Best and most versatile land (grades 1, 2 and 3a). Source: the Predictive Agricultural Land Classification Map (Defra and Natural England, 2025; the Welsh Government's Predictive ALC Map 2 in Wales), a model rather than a site survey. Natural England's Provisional ALC map (1:250,000, 1970s) agrees.
Where development of farmland is needed, policy prefers poorer land over the best and most versatile (grades 1, 2 and 3a). Three sources: Natural England's post-1988 field surveys, which are definitive where they exist; the Defra predictive map for England (2025) and the Welsh Government predictive map, modelled from the soil map with 3a and 3b split; and the 1970s provisional map, which planners and other services still show, coarser and with grade 3 undivided. Where the provisional and predicted grades disagree, treat the predicted grade as the current estimate and expect an application to carry its own survey.
Special area of conservation 188 m away: River Itchen
Work nearby can need a habitats assessment.
Harm to a protected site is only accepted where there is no alternative and an overriding public interest.
Habitat network: Restorable Habitat
Where habitat is joined up enough to work as a network. Context, not a constraint on its own.
Public footpath 26 m away
Matters where it crosses or adjoins the site: obstructing a path without a diversion order is an offence, and work cannot start until the order is confirmed.
Compiled from highway authority data, not the legal definitive map. A few authorities have not published, so no path shown is not proof there is none.
SSSI 179 m away: Alresford Pond SSSI
Natural England may need consulting, depending on what is proposed.
Sites of special scientific interest are the best wildlife and geological sites in the country. Development likely to harm one is rarely permitted.
Also on the record
Radon affected area, class 2; Nature improvement area: South Downs Way Ahead; Priority habitat 11 m away: Coastal and floodplain grazing marsh.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt · No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 28 October 2026. Historic England, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the British Geological Survey and UK Health Security Agency (radon, contains BGS materials © UKRI) and council datasets, Open Government Licence. A boundary can run through a site and the council holds the definitive record: confirm with the council before relying on this.

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Important details

Application type
Tree in a Conservation Area
Postcode
SO24 0QZ
Received
28 Oct 2026
Validated
28 Oct 2026
Ward
Alresford & Itchen Valley Ward
Parish
Itchen Stoke and Ovington Parish Council
Case officer
Show
Target decision
9 Dec 2026
Decision level
LA Delegated Decision
Applicant
Show

Decision outlook

Day 1 of the 56-day target. South Downs usually decides tree and landscaping works by day 44.

Day 155 days to the 56-day target
72%decided within 8 weeks
98%approved
679decided in the last year

Plota live figures for tree and landscaping works decided by South Downs in the last twelve months, from validation. South Downs decision record →

Public comments

No public comments yet.

Last counted 28 Oct 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-15328365
Planning Portal ref
PP-15328365
Statutory expiry
9 Dec 2026
Env. assessment
No