GOLDSMITHS COLLEGE, LEWISHAM WAY, LONDON, SE14 6YZ
COLLEGE GREEN (E.side): ONE London Plane (T3/T9 in TPO) FELL. Reason: the tree is been implicated as the cause of subsidence damage in the small rear 2-storey (1.8m x 2m) outrigger at the neighbouring property of 30 St Donatts Road. The tree works are proposed to stop the influence of the tree(s) on the soil below building foundation level and provide long term stability. Estimated costs of repair to the building are £30,000.00 if the influence of the tree(s) remain and £18,245.00 if the proposed tree works are allowed to proceed. Granting permission will limit these costs. In the event of a refusal we, or our clients, will seek to secure compensation for the additional costs incurred through Section 202(e). Should the tree/s remain the total cost of repairs will be the Superstructural repairs + Alternative method of repairs = £48,245.00 It is the expert opinion of both the case engineer and arboriculturalist that on the balance of probabilities the supporting information demonstrates the influence of the tree(s). Note: Further monitoring results may be submitted if these become available during the course of this application.The London Borough of Lewisham (Goldsmiths College Lewisham Way London SE14) Tree Preservation Order 2007Informative A: retention of the London Plane tree (T9 in TPO) is encouraged with crown reduction and alternative mitigation such as underpinning, piles or a flexible copper impregnated root barrier, as in 2022 the soils were very soft below the foundations of the small 1.8m x 2m outrigger, soil not desiccated with moisture content increasing with depth, which correlates with the water strike at 2.8m, the downward movement of the outrigger, and the broken drains likely to have caused the tree roots to grow towards the water source at the property as the London Plane is 20.5m from the building, beyond the NHBC zone of influence for Plane trees of 19.5m. Informative B: if the London Plane is felled there appears to be risk of heave of 18mm according to the Oedometer Test, with soil of High, Very High and Extremely High plasticity, whereas maximum downward movement is 8mm. Condition: a replacement tree is planted with a suitable large canopy tree species, such as another London Plane, or Hornbeam or Tulip Tree in the NHBC low water demand list, planted on the other side of the path on the edge of College Green to maintain the historic landscape setting of College Green and the Grade II listed Richard Hoggart Building.