Tree concerns could mean change of plan at Winchfield development (From This is Hampshire)
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Hart District Council tree officer raises concern about Winchfield Lodge plan
11:00am Friday 8th March 2013 in News By Chris Gregory
A PLAN to convert a former hunting lodge and land in Winchfield into a small housing estate might have to change to protect trees.
The Winchfield Lodge Partnership applied in December to split Winchfield Lodge, in Old Potbridge Road, into three homes and to build 12 more in its grounds.
But Rob Toll, tree officer at Hart District Council, said he could not support the application because it would mean removing significant trees, including a lime and a group of seven yews.
He added that an oak, thought to have been more than 300 years old, had already been removed in preparation for the development.
He wrote: “Based on the previous tree removal and the threat of further removal, we have served a tree preservation order on the site to protect the most significant and outstanding specimens.
“Due to the unsympathetic design layout and the extent of the proposed tree removal, I am unable to support this application.”
Councillor Andrew Renshaw, chairman of Winchfield Parish Council, told its meeting on Monday that he thought the application would be withdrawn.
But he added that Hart council planning officers had said any revised plan might include two more homes.
