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Press Release

12 December 2024

Planning Committee reluctantly grants consent for the felling of trees

A decision has been reluctantly made by the Planning Committee at Fareham Borough Council to fell one lime tree and six oak trees in Fareham which are causing structural damage to two residential properties.

Following extensive site investigations, it was determined that the trees are the likely cause of subsidence and resultant structural damage to the two properties.

Whilst repairs to the properties will be covered by home insurance, far more extensive structural works would be needed if the trees which caused the damage are to remain in place. The insurance companies would also be entitled to seek the increased costs of repair works from the Council, if it did not allow the trees to be removed.

The Council has separately been lobbying the Government throughout the year to make changes to the legislation around tree preservation orders, so that felling trees implicated in subsidence cases should be considered as a last resort rather than one of the first options. To date the Government has indicated it does not intend to review the existing legislation around tree preservation orders.

Chairman of the Planning Committee, Cllr David Foot, said: “This was an incredibly difficult decision for the Members of the Planning Committee. The trees undoubtedly make a positive visual contribution to the area. The visual benefits needed to be considered alongside the fact that the homes of two families are being damaged. On top of this, if the Council refused consent to fell the trees, the insurance companies would seek to recover their increased repair costs from the Council. These costs were estimated as being at least £225,000 for the two properties. Based on the legislation as it currently exists, the need to prevent ongoing damage to the properties and to avoid a substantial compensation claim against the Council, the Planning Committee reluctantly agreed to the felling of the trees. A requirement of the consents is that a replacement tree must be planted for each of the trees felled.”

For full details of the report considered by today’s Planning Committee, go to:

https://moderngov.fareham.gov.uk/documents/g4505/Public%20reports%20pack%2011th-Dec-2024%2014.30%20Planning%20Committee.pdf?T=10

ENDS