Project: To successfully obtain planning permission for a new £10 million state-of-the-art sports facility for Grasshoppers Rugby Club on Metropolitan Open Land with Tree Preservation Order
Wharton Natural Advisor: Sebastian Onslow, Senior Arboricultural Consultant
Deliverables:
Tree Survey BS5837:2012
Tree Constraints Plan
Arboricultural Impact Assessment
Scope/Scale of project:
The proposal included an improved outdoor sports facility with a new clubhouse and six floodlit pitches, as well as spruced up changing rooms, a physiotherapy studio, gym, meeting rooms, offices, a club shop and floodlighting for night time use of the pitches. .
Overview:
Full planning consent was granted by the London Borough of Hounslow in February 2017 for relocation of Grasshoppers Rugby Club to new state of the art facilities at Syon Lane, Isleworth. The Metropolitan Open Land (afforded the same level of protection as Metropolitan Green Belt) was also subject to a Tree Preservation Order (TPO).
Following the initial tree constraints assessment, a detailed impact appraisal was produced and submitted alongside the successful planning application. The majority of trees to be removed were protected by the site TPO. To mitigate this loss, the Grasshoppers proposals allowed for significant replanting and enhanced ecology to supplement the mature tree belt at the perimeter, also enhancing the visual screening to neighbouring properties. .
