**Document:** Arboricultural Officer Comments - Final **Application:** 17/00339/B — Extension to existing buildings to provide storage and staff facilities **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2017-05-25 **Parish:** Braddan **Document Type:** consultation / consultation_response **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/23116-braddan-storage-buildings-the-extension/documents/1029231 --- # Arboricultural Officer Comments - Final ## Riley, Edmond From: Igoea, Andrew Sent: 25 April 2017 13:13 To: Riley, Edmond Cc: 'ken jordan'; Notman, Ian Subject: FW: 17/00339/B; Extension to Store at rear of The Drill Hall, Tromode Road, Douglas Hi Ed, Further to a site visit this morning with the applicant, my concerns about this application have been addressed. I understand it will be possible to construct the new facility keeping the existing perimeter security fence in-situ. This fence will act as an effective barrier to the woodland beyond and help to protect any nearby trees. Inside the site, the existing concrete means that the risk of significant damage to tree roots is low. If this application is approved would it be possible to have condition which requires the perimeter fence to be retained? We identified 6 or 7 trees which are likely to need removing but, having visited the site; I can see that this would be the case even if the site wasn’t being developed, so this shouldn’t be viewed as a constraint to development. Regards, Andrew Igoea | Arboricultural Officer Forestry, Amenity and Lands Directorate | Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture Thie Slieau Whallian | Foxdale Road | St Johns | Isle of Man | IM4 3AS TEL: (+44) 01624 695705 | MOB: (+44) 07624 463081 | E-MAIL: andrew.igoea@gov.im From: Igoea, Andrew Sent: 31 March 2017 11:22 To: 'ken jordan' Cc: Riley, Edmond Subject: 17/00339/B; Extension to Store at rear of The Drill Hall, Tromode Road, Douglas Hi Ken, Sorry I haven’t replied to this sooner. I didn’t get chance to visit the site until Wednesday this week. As the application has now been submitted I have copied in the planning officer who will be dealing with application. The application proposes construction activity immediately adjacent to the urban woodland between Doulas Avenue, Tromode Road and the Department of Home Affairs offices. This is an important pocket of urban woodland with a high amenity value. I appreciate your point regarding the possibility that existing buildings have restricted rooting but there are still issues with working so close to the roots of trees to be retained. Even if the footprint of the building is outside of the root protection areas (as defined by BS5837), and it is constructed on specialist foundations, there is still a risk that the construction activity could have a detrimental impact on the trees. I think it is also very likely that once this building is constructed concerns will be raised about some of the edge trees which lean out over the site (these may also be an issue for construction access). In other words, the proposal is likely to lead to future pressure to remove trees. In this regard, a tree survey would identify the low quality trees which could be removed. If the application included some tree removal based on this survey you would avoid misplaced tree retention, remove some unnecessary constraints and improve the relationship between the trees and buildings going forward. I will recommend to the planning officer that they request the following information before the application is determined: - 1. A tree survey and survey plan - 2. An arboricultural impact assessment - 3. A tree protection plan - 4. An arboricultural method statement All of the above would need to accord to the recommendations of BS5837:2012 to be acceptable. Unfortunately, if this information was not submitted I would have to object to the application on the grounds that there is insufficient information to assess the impact on neighbouring trees. If you have any questions regarding any of the above, please let me know and I’ll see what I can do to help. Regards, Andrew Igoea | Arboricultural Officer Forestry, Amenity and Lands Directorate | Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture Thie Slieau Whallian | Foxdale Road | St Johns | Isle of Man | IM4 3AS TEL: (+44) 01624 695705 | MOB: (+44) 07624 463081 | E-MAIL: andrew.igoea@gov.im From: ken jordan [mailto:ken.jordan@gmail.com] Sent: 20 March 2017 11:35 To: Igoea, Andrew Subject: Extension to Store at rear of The Drill Hall, Tromode Road, Douglas Dear Andrew, Further to our telephone conversation of today's date, I enclose for your perusal and comment, a pdf copy of drawings numbered 1556/02-03 and 04 pertaining to this proposed development at the Drill Hall. In view of the wooded slope occurring to the rear of this development, I am proposing a series of pad foundations to support these pre-fabricated modules, thereby avoiding the use of strip foundations which could damage any tree roots which may occur in our vicinity. It is envisaged that any tree-roots straying near individual pads would be carefully re-routed if possible or cut and treated in strict accordance with any requirements requested by DEFRA. As there are already two traditional buildings (to be demolished) existing within the development area (see drawing 1556/04 attached), it is not expected that roots will be present here. When you have had an opportunity to look at the proposal, I will look forward to hearing from you in due course. Many thanks and best regards Ken #### Kenneth A Jordan RIBA MRIAI Chartered Architect tel: 01624 622646 mob:07624 306672 Engadine, Little Switzerland, Victoria Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 6AG This e-mail is confidential to the addressee only. Please notify the Sender immediately should you not be the intended recipient, and delete the message from your computer and/or network. Do not disclose its contents to others. Kenneth A Jordan Chartered Architect accepts no responsibility or liability for postdispatch changes or infection by computer viruses, which may result from this document transmittal | | |---| --- *Data sourced from the Isle of Man public planning register under the [Isle of Man Open Government Licence](https://www.gov.im/about-this-site/open-government-licence/).* *Canonical page: https://planningportal.im/a/23116-braddan-storage-buildings-the-extension/documents/1029231*