Oak crown reduction at 40 Sequoia Park, Hatch End, Pinner
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Harrow Planning Committee on 25 Jun 2025.
The site and tree
The protected English oak stands in the rear garden of a detached home and is visible from Oxhey Lane and Sequoia Park.
“The application site is a residential detached property within Sequoia Park, a cul- de-sac situated north of the Uxbridge Road and west of Oxhey Lane, a busy arterial A-road which runs behind the property. The rear garden is well planted and landscaped with hedging on the rear boundary providing valuable screening from the road behind.”
“The oak is a prominent feature, clearly visible from Oxhey Lane and Sequoia Park. Approximate height is 22m with a crown spread of 18m. Stem diameter is approximately 1.1m.”
Officer report
Earlier application
An earlier, more severe crown reduction proposal was withdrawn after the local planning authority disputed it.
“Previous application reference PL/0053/25 by the same applicant, for a more severe extent of crown reduction (4 -6m reduction of the crown) to address alleged subsidence issues, was disputed by the LPA and subsequently withdrawn. This revised application proposes more reasonable and proportionate pruning works.”
Officer report
Why officers supported it
Officers considered the works acceptable routine maintenance for sound arboricultural reasons, subject to best-practice and time-limit conditions.
“From an arboricultural perspective, the works are considered acceptable and there is no reason why the application should not be granted consent. The works are for routine maintenance purposes and are considered acceptable…”
“The proposed works and the reasons in support are considered to be acceptable and for sound arboricultural reasons. The Planning Committee is therefore requested to approve the application, subject to the conditions listed in Appendix 1.”
Officer report
Consultation position
There was no statutory requirement to consult on works to a tree protected by a Tree Preservation Order.
“There is no statutory requirement to consult on applications relating to trees protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) under the Town and Country Planning (Tree Preservation) (England) Regulations 2012.”
Officer report
The committee decision
The committee granted permission subject to the report’s conditions and recorded that the approval was unanimous.
“2) Grant permission subject to the Conditions listed in Appendix 1 of the report.”
“DECISION: GRANTED subject to the conditions set out in the Officer’s report.”
Minutes
Conditions on the works
The works must be completed within two years and follow British Standard 3998, without using climbing irons or spikes.
“All works permitted under this consent must be completed within 2 years of the date of issue of this consent at which time this consent will expire…”
“The work shall be carried out in accordance with British Standard 3998 Recommendations for Tree Work (2010). Climbing irons or spikes shall not be used during the execution of any tree pruning works.”
Officer report
Sources
- Harrow Planning Committee minutes, 25 June 2025
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Harrow'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
- Harrow Planning Committee
- Council
- Harrow
- Date
- Wednesday 25 June 2025
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Vote
- Unanimous
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Harrow committee decisions →