No homes allowed on site of illegal tree fellings

Plans for nine new homes on land where 80 trees were illegally cut down have been rejected by councillors.

P and PR Property Developments Ltd had planned to build three and four-bedroom detached properties off Castledon Road in Wickford, Essex.

However, concerns were raised at a Basildon Council meeting about the development, including that the felled trees had not been replaced.

Planning committee members unanimously agreed to refuse the plans, which they heard focused on a "back garden".

Eighty trees, some of which were 100-year-old mature oaks, were axed down and burned in 2019.

This happened without a licence from the Forestry Commission, who later issued a notice for the trees to be replaced, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The trees were removed after earlier blueprints for a new home at the site were agreed, the planning committee heard.

Steve Holder, who lives nearby, told the meeting he was concerned that removing the remaining 20 trees would further "degrade the woodland".

Issues were also raised by Graham Ellis, of Wickford Town Council, who said: "This site would be better described as a wildlife corridor than infill land.

"I would urge the planners to reject the plan as unsuitable for development and look unfavourably on the illegal felling that took place."

P and PR Property Developments Limited was contacted for comment.

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