Spring House Matford Road Exeter EX2 4PD Data via plota.co.uk

26/1266/CAT - Works to Trees in a Conservation Area Approved

Proposal

1. Group G2 - Mixed Species Work: Prune to clear buildings by 1m. Reason: Branches are growing too close to the building. Pruning will provide a minimum 1 metre clearance and help prevent branch contact, abrasion to the structure and future maintenance issues. 2. Group G6 - Mixed Species Work: Prune to provide 2m clearance from neighbouring property. Reason: Vegetation is encroaching towards adjacent land. The pruning is recommended to maintain a reasonable separation from neighbouring property and prevent nuisance or potential damage. 3. Tree 5 (Tag 733) - Pittosporum Work: Prune to clear adjacent building by at least 1m. Reason: The survey records that the tree is growing at an angle and is in contact with the adjacent building, with the crown close to the structure. Pruning is required to remove contact and establish an appropriate clearance. 4. Tree 11 (Tag 737) - Turkey Oak Work: Crown lift to provide 5.2m clearance over the adjacent road. Reason: Low branches extend over the highway. Crown lifting is required to achieve the statutory highway clearance of approximately 5.2 metres and reduce the risk of vehicle strikes 5. Tree 21 (Tag 736) - Pittosporum Work: Prune to provide 2m clearance from the building. Reason: The survey notes that the crown is close to the building/infrastructure. Pruning will establish a suitable clearance and reduce the potential for branch contact with the structure. Data via plota.co.uk

View original council record ↗Last checked

Application progress

✓
Received
21 Aug 2026
✓
Approved
14 Oct 2026

Approved on 14 Oct 2026 · Delegated Decision · Last checked 15 Oct 2026

Site constraints 4

St Leonards 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.
Council document ↗
8 listed buildings within 150 m
Nearest: Matford House, Grade II, 60 m away · 8 Grade II
The site itself is not listed. 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 all 8 with distances
Historic England ↗
Also on the record
Radon affected area, class 2; Inside the Exeter built-up area.
Not affected
Outside flood zones 2 and 3 · Not green belt · No scheduled monument at the site

Checked on 6 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

Council
Exeter
Application type
Works to Trees in a Conservation Area
Postcode
EX2 4PD
Received
21 Aug 2026
Validated
21 Aug 2026
Ward
Newtown And St Leonards
Case officer
Show
Target decision
2 Oct 2026
Decision
Permitted
Decision date
14 Oct 2026
Decision level
Delegated Decision
Applicant
Show
Agent
Ground Control Ltd - 689035

How this decision compares

Decided in 54 days from validation, 24 days slower than Exeter's median of 30 for tree and landscaping works. Approved, as 97% of tree and landscaping works here are.

93%decided within 8 weeks
97%approved
229decided in the last year

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

Public comments

No public comments yet.

Last counted 15 Oct 2026

Read the comments on the council site ↗

Consultation & key dates

Alt. reference
PP-15175653
Planning Portal ref
PP-15175653
Statutory expiry
2 Oct 2026
Env. assessment
No
Exeter
Planning Authority Score
3.2/10
Poor
#228 of 296 councils
Relevant to this application:
Other decisions

Exeter is slower than most councils at deciding householder applications, ranking #214 out of 296. Householder applications are slightly less likely to be approved here (86%) than the national average (90%).

Slower than most councils
for householder decisions
These figures are council-wide context, not a prediction for this application. View full council performance
Exeter decision statistics
Based on MHCLG data, the year to March 2026
85%
Overall approval rate
Below avg (87%) #205 of 296
86%
Householder approved
Below avg (90%) #242 of 296
54%
Decided in 8 weeks
Below avg (63%) #214 of 296
40%
Extended time limit
Below avg (41%) #150 of 296
58%
Minor dwellings approved
31 decided (1-9 homes)
60%
Major dwellings approved
5 decided (10+ homes)
90%
Change of use approved
40 decided
582
Total decisions
86 refused in the year to March 2026

Freehold boundary: © Crown copyright and database rights 2026, HM Land Registry. Polygons © Crown copyright and database rights 2026 Ordnance Survey 100026316. Conditions of use