Mathias House Mathias Close Epsom Surrey KT18 7RX

1. 1.Lack of justification The evidence submitted does not prove conclusively that the tree is a substantial and effective cause of damage to the building because: o It does not appear that other factors have been considered and eliminated before concluding that the tree is a material cause of damage. Damage from thermal movement within the building has been identified as a source of internal cracking to the property. o There is no differentiation between what is thermal movement damage and what is subsidence damage and what cost is apportioned to the repair of each element. o Permission for the Council to inspect the damage internally has been declined meaning that the cracking pattern and focal point of the damage cannot be verified in relation to the tree. o No live roots from the subject tree have been found directly below the foundation and it is unclear whether those roots recovered are adjacent to the focal point of damage: o There is no evidence of external crack damage in the building by the tree. o Building level monitoring, although showing a seasonal movement, could also be indicative of a heave movement brought about from root retrenchment. The Oak is a prominent specimen which offers a good level of amenity and ecosystem benefits to the environment. Its removal would be detrimental to the environment, heritage and character of the area, contrary to policies CS1 and CS5 of the Core Strategy 2007, Policies DM5 and DM9 of the Development Management Policies Document 2015 and Section 15 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2024.
2. 2.Lack of Alternatives and adverse Impact on Amenity There is insufficient analysis submitted of remediation methods that could be deployed as an alternative to removing the tree and the reasons given by the applicant for the felling do not justify the trees loss as an amenity feature. Its removal would be detrimental to the environment, heritage and character of the area, contrary to policies CS1 and CS5 of the Core Strategy 2007, Policies DM5 and DM9 of the Development Management Policies Document 2015 and Section 15 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2024.

From the council's decision notice.

Postcode

KT18 7RX

Date validated

10 February 2025

Applicant

Private applicant

Case officer

Jeremy Young