Protected young walnut tree set to be moved for new Telford bungalow

A protected young walnut tree is set to be moved as part of revised plans for a bungalow in Telford.

The young tree on spare land at Len Murray Close, Hadley, had replaced an old walnut tree that had been felled.

Both the old tree and its replacement were covered by a tree preservation order.

Council planners have been told that issues they raised have led to a 'materially refined design' which responds to points raised.

Planning agent Dawley Architectural has told council planners that "advice did not identify a fatal objection. It identified a series of discrete, resolvable matters. The current submission resolves them."

Len Murray Close, named in honour of a leader of the trades union movement and D-Day veteran, has nine bungalows. A tenth plot was left undeveloped because of the mature walnut tree. A younger tree was planted to replace it after it died/was felled.

Now the applicants, SMR Developments, of Longdon-on-Tern, Telford, believe they have a solution - to move the young tree.

"The protected young Walnut tree is shown to be translocated to the northern part of the site, with the dwelling footprint kept clear of the indicated Root Protection Area," the agents wrote.

Plans have twice been withdrawn, the first time in January 2026 after the applicant decided to seek pre-application advice from the council.

The second withdrawal of plans in August 2026 was a "pragmatic step" while the government reviewed rules on biodiversity net gain (BNG) on smaller sites.

The agents wrote that this was a practical response to a 'disproportionate cost and procedural burden' arising under the BNG position as it then stood.

"The national position has now changed for the smallest development sites, and the application is resubmitted on the basis of the current exemption for development sites of 0.2ha or below," they added.

"No works to the protected Walnut tree shall be undertaken until the necessary written consent, TPO modification, tree works consent or other formal written confirmation has been issued," the agents add.

"Tree protection measures will be installed prior to commencement of works and retained for the duration of construction in accordance with the approved arboricultural information.

"This is not a case of harm to a protected tree being ignored or deferred. The tree constraint has shaped the layout, reduced the building footprint and informed the proposed tree position."

During a previous consultation members of the public objected to the relocation of the tree.

They wrote: "This sapling is not fully established, and the first few years of its life are crucial for its survival and establishing its root system."

A neighbour also objected to the proposed relocation of the walnut tree closer to their boundary wall.

"A walnut tree can grow to approximately 60 feet in height with a spread of around 40 feet, and we believe the proposed location is too close to the boundary," they added.

Plans can be viewed on the Telford & Wrekin Council planning portal with the reference TWC/2026/0655

The Shropshire Star publishes public notices from across the county, which are also available online through the Public Notice Portal here: https://publicnoticeportal.uk/shropshire-star.