St Pauls Church Bedford Street London WC2E 9ED Data via plota.co.uk

26/05332/TCA - Applic. for works to trees in CA Pending

Proposal

Rear T1 Tree of Heaven x 1 (Ailanthus altissima) Following a recent limb failure and aerial inspection, the tree has been found to contain multiple cavities, deadwood, failed cable bracing, crossing limbs, and several included unions, together with declining historic pollard points. Due to its condition and its location within a busy public garden, we recommend carrying out a heavy crown reduction beyond the previous pollard points. This will reduce the load on the weakened structure and lower the risk of further branch failure while retaining the tree. Suggested work: Carry out a heavy crown reduction by reducing the scaffold framework approximately 4?6 metres below the existing pollard points to create a new pollard framework. This will remove the majority of the compromised upper crown, including defective unions, declining pollard heads, crossing limbs and deadwood, while significantly reducing end weight and wind loading on the remaining structure. The reduction will also provide the tree with the opportunity to establish a new cycle of vigorous regrowth from lower, more structurally suitable points, allowing the tree to be retained and managed safely through future cyclical pollarding. Data via plota.co.uk

View original council record ↗

Application progress

Received
6 Aug 2026
Decision
Awaiting decision

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

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Important details

Application type
Applic. for works to trees in CA
Postcode
WC2E 9ED
Received
6 Aug 2026
Validated
6 Aug 2026
Ward
St James's
Case officer
Show
Target decision
1 Oct 2026
Applicant
Show
Agent
Treecare Ltd

Public comments

No public comments yet.

Last counted 23 Aug 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-15140204
Env. assessment
No
Westminster
Planning Authority Score
3.5/10
Below average
#221 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Householder decisions

Westminster is slower than most councils at deciding householder applications, ranking #258 out of 296. Only 28% of applications have the time limit extended, well below the 41% national average - the council usually decides on time. Westminster is also one of the strictest councils - it refuses more householder applications than almost any other, with only 81% approved vs 90% nationally.

One of the strictest councils
only 81% approved vs 90% nationally
These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
Westminster decision performance
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
86%
Overall approval rate
Below avg (87%) #201 of 296
81%
Householder approved
Below avg (90%) #277 of 296
44%
Decided in 8 weeks
Below avg (63%) #258 of 296
28%
Extended time limit
Below avg (41%) #46 of 296
83%
Minor dwellings approved
12 decided (1-9 homes)
67%
Major dwellings approved
3 decided (10+ homes)
81%
Change of use approved
133 decided
4,602
Total decisions
648 refused in the year to March 2026