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| Application Number 25/01812/TCA |
Application Type Works To Trees In Conservation Area |
| Status Under Consultation |
Decision Level |
| Location Church Cottage
Church Lane
Charlton On Otmoor
OX5 2UA |
|
| Proposal There are 4 trees in the garden at Church Cottage, a Grade 2 Listed thatched property in a conservation area.
One (OAK on plan) is an oak, in good condition and protected by a TPO. No works are required.
We have consulted a professional arborist, who has identified the remaining 3 trees (T1, T2, T3) as North American Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). They are native to eastern and central USA and all parts are highly toxic to humans, dogs and horses (Ref: BlackLocust.pdf, attached) and Ref: https://www.poison.org/articles/are-black-locust-trees-toxic-221.
Planned works:
(1) Removal of T1 (nearest to house).
(2) Thinning and maintenance of T2 and T3, and guidance on potential future removal and replacement with UK-native species.
Justification for works to T1 (see attached photos):
(1) The tree is in poor condition and presents a risk to the property, church wall and churchyard. The tree leans towards Church Cottage and its canopy extends over part of the property. Falling leaves, blossom and seeds are a risk to the integrity of the thatch.
(2) The non-native nature of the tree means that it has not adapted well to the UK climate, branches fall regularly from it (and T2 & T3) in medium-high winds into both the garden of Church Cottage and into the graveyard.
(3) The tree is clogged with ivy, which further impacts its stability and growth.
(4) The proximity of T1 to T2 means that the canopy of T2 is unbalanced. Removal of T1 would, at least, enable T2 to become more balanced.
(5) Overhead power cables to neighbouring properties pass through the branches of T1 (and T2). Neighbours report that, prior to works to strengthen the cable, there have been incidents of the cable being brought down by movement of the tree and branches.
(6) The toxicity of the tree, blossom, seeds etc presents a risk both to those in the garden at Church Cottage, or visiting the churchyard were (say) a small child to be injured by the spikes on its branches, or to ingest seeds.
(7) The churchyard is a public space and hence the overhang represents something that needs to be taken into consideration along with the points above. The churchyard is central to the village, graves are well maintained and it's visited regularly.
Due to the density of the trees along the church wall we would ask the tree officer's advice on replacement. The existing density has prevented T1 and T2 from developing properly and, in an ideal scenario, we'd perhaps propose replacing both T1 and T2 with a single semi-mature native variety that would grow to similar height and canopy - for example a "Resista" Elm, Field Maple etc. |
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| Parish |
Ward |
| Received Date 11/07/2025 |
Valid Date 11/07/2025 |
| Weekly List Date |
Comments Due Date |
| Target Decision Date 22/08/2025 |
Committee Date |
| Decision |
Decision Issued Date |
| Appeal Received Date |
Appeal Start Date |
| Appeal Decision |
Appeal Decision Date |
| Applicant Dr Richard Spearman |
| Applicant's Address Church Cottage
Church Lane
Charlton on Otmoor
OX5 2UA |
|
Agent |
|
Agents's Address |
Written comments are publicly available and cannot be treated as confidential. Please refer to our Comment on a Planning Application page for further information. To view representations received please refer to the documents tab.
Neighbour List
| No associated neighbours |
Consultee List
| Name | Address | Consult Date | Reply Due | Reply Received | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NameClerk to Charlton On Otmoor PC - Mrs Samantha Hatwell | AddressWillesdon High Street Charlton On Otmoor Kidlington Oxfordshire OX5 2UQ | Consult Date23/07/2025 | Reply Due | Reply Received | TypeTrees in a Conservation Area |
| No Public Notices |
To view individual documents, click on the highlighted document title. To download a selection of individual documents, place a tick alongside each of the relevant rows and then click on Download selected files. To download all the documents, place a tick in the box alongside the header row and all the files will be selected, then click on Download selected files.
| Document Type | Date | Description | File Size | Drawing/Rev Number | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Forms | |||||
| Application Document | 23/07/2025 | Consultee Special | (154kb) | - | |
| Application Documents | 11/07/2025 | Applicationformredacted | (184kb) | - | |
| Application Documents | 11/07/2025 | Feecalculation | (50kb) | - | |
| Application Documents | 11/07/2025 | Attachmentsummary | (74kb) | - | |
| Application Documents | 11/07/2025 | Sketchplan | (3354kb) | - | |
| Application Documents | 11/07/2025 | Measuredsurvey | (4042kb) | - | |
| Application Documents | 11/07/2025 | Detail Drawing Included In Additional Plans | (44kb) | - | |
| Application Documents | 11/07/2025 | Sketch Plan Included In Additional Plans | (44kb) | - | |
| Application Documents | 11/07/2025 | T2 Powercable | (7454kb) | - | |
| Application Documents | 11/07/2025 | T1 Churchyard | (7708kb) | - | |
| Application Documents | 11/07/2025 | T1t2 Churchyard | (7461kb) | - | |
| Application Documents | 11/07/2025 | T1 Overhang | (6981kb) | - | |
| Application Documents | 11/07/2025 | T1t2 Powercable | (9503kb) | - | |
| Application Documents | 11/07/2025 | T1 Ivy | (9803kb) | - | |
| Application Documents | 11/07/2025 | T1 T2 T3 | (8689kb) | - | |
| Application Documents | 11/07/2025 | T1l T2r | (9168kb) | - | |
| Application Documents | 11/07/2025 | Blacklocust | (3824kb) | - | |
| Application Documents | 11/07/2025 | Other Relevant Information Included In Arboricultural Implications | (44kb) | - | |
| Application Documents | 11/07/2025 | Tree Survey Included In Arboricultural Implications | (44kb) | - | |
| Officer/Committee Consideration | |||||
| Case Correspondence | 23/07/2025 | TCA Acknowledgement Letter | (148kb) | - | |
| Application Forms | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Document (154kb) - Consultee Special | |||||
| Application Documents (184kb) - Applicationformredacted | |||||
| Application Documents (50kb) - Feecalculation | |||||
| Application Documents (74kb) - Attachmentsummary | |||||
| Application Documents (3354kb) - Sketchplan | |||||
| Application Documents (4042kb) - Measuredsurvey | |||||
| Application Documents (44kb) - Detail Drawing Included In Additional Plans | |||||
| Application Documents (44kb) - Sketch Plan Included In Additional Plans | |||||
| Application Documents (7454kb) - T2 Powercable | |||||
| Application Documents (7708kb) - T1 Churchyard | |||||
| Application Documents (7461kb) - T1t2 Churchyard | |||||
| Application Documents (6981kb) - T1 Overhang | |||||
| Application Documents (9503kb) - T1t2 Powercable | |||||
| Application Documents (9803kb) - T1 Ivy | |||||
| Application Documents (8689kb) - T1 T2 T3 | |||||
| Application Documents (9168kb) - T1l T2r | |||||
| Application Documents (3824kb) - Blacklocust | |||||
| Application Documents (44kb) - Other Relevant Information Included In Arboricultural Implications | |||||
| Application Documents (44kb) - Tree Survey Included In Arboricultural Implications | |||||
| Officer/Committee Consideration | |||||
| Case Correspondence (148kb) - TCA Acknowledgement Letter |
| Addresses |
|---|
| Church Cottage Church Lane Charlton On Otmoor OX5 2UA |
Planning Applications | ||||||
| Application number | Valid Date | Application Type | Location | Proposal | Decision | Decision Issued Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25/01812/TCA | 11/07/2025 | Works To Trees In Conservation Area | Church Cottage Church Lane Charlton On Otmoor OX5 2UA | There are 4 trees in the garden at Church Cottage, a Grade 2 Listed thatched property in a conservation area. One (OAK on plan) is an oak, in good condition and protected by a TPO. No works are required. We have consulted a professional arborist, who has identified the remaining 3 trees (T1, T2, T3) as North American Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). They are native to eastern and central USA and all parts are highly toxic to humans, dogs and horses (Ref: BlackLocust.pdf, attached) and Ref: https://www.poison.org/articles/are-black-locust-trees-toxic-221. Planned works: (1) Removal of T1 (nearest to house). (2) Thinning and maintenance of T2 and T3, and guidance on potential future removal and replacement with UK-native species. Justification for works to T1 (see attached photos): (1) The tree is in poor condition and presents a risk to the property, church wall and churchyard. The tree leans towards Church Cottage and its canopy extends over part of the property. Falling leaves, blossom and seeds are a risk to the integrity of the thatch. (2) The non-native nature of the tree means that it has not adapted well to the UK climate, branches fall regularly from it (and T2 & T3) in medium-high winds into both the garden of Church Cottage and into the graveyard. (3) The tree is clogged with ivy, which further impacts its stability and growth. (4) The proximity of T1 to T2 means that the canopy of T2 is unbalanced. Removal of T1 would, at least, enable T2 to become more balanced. (5) Overhead power cables to neighbouring properties pass through the branches of T1 (and T2). Neighbours report that, prior to works to strengthen the cable, there have been incidents of the cable being brought down by movement of the tree and branches. (6) The toxicity of the tree, blossom, seeds etc presents a risk both to those in the garden at Church Cottage, or visiting the churchyard were (say) a small child to be injured by the spikes on its branches, or to ingest seeds. (7) The churchyard is a public space and hence the overhang represents something that needs to be taken into consideration along with the points above. The churchyard is central to the village, graves are well maintained and it's visited regularly. Due to the density of the trees along the church wall we would ask the tree officer's advice on replacement. The existing density has prevented T1 and T2 from developing properly and, in an ideal scenario, we'd perhaps propose replacing both T1 and T2 with a single semi-mature native variety that would grow to similar height and canopy - for example a "Resista" Elm, Field Maple etc. | ||
Building Control Applications | ||||||
| Application number | Received Date | Validated Date | Application Type | Location | Proposal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CP/OFTEC/00195/2014 | 28/02/2014 | 28/02/2014 | Oil Firing Technical Association | Church Cottage Church Lane Charlton On Otmoor Kidlington OX5 2UA | Commission a pressure jet appliance installation up to 70KW | |
| CP/FENSA/01010/2008 | 04/06/2008 | 04/06/2008 | Window replacement schemes | Church Cottage Church Lane Charlton On Otmoor Oxfordshire OX5 2UA | 1 Window | |
| CP/NICEIC/02932/2015 | 30/04/2015 | 30/04/2015 | Competent Persons Scheme Type | Church Cottage Church Lane Charlton On Otmoor Kidlington OX5 2UA | Install a replacement consumer unit | |
| 24/37691/CP | 16/02/2024 | 07/02/2024 | Competent Persons Scheme | Church Cottage Church Lane Charlton On Otmoor Kidlington OX5 2UA | Install replacement door in a dwelling. | |