20 Mercia Court, Highwood Close, London, SE22 8NN

Details of condition 4 (Pre commencement site meeting) as required by planning permission ref. 26/AP/2437 dated 15/10/2026 for 'Erection of single-storey seperate rear extensions to both properties following demolition of the existing single-storey rear outriggers, construction of detached garden studios, associated hard and soft landscaping works, and removal of existing rooflights with the installation of replacement and additional rooflights within the existing loft spaces'.

Demolition of existing garage and construction of a new garage.

T1 - Hawthorn - crown lift. 7m in height. No reduction to height. Crown lift to 3m above ground level. A Hawthorn growing on the boundary of the property, with its lower branches extending out over the adjoining car bays and the public footpath. The low growth obstructs pedestrians using the path and vehicles using the bays. Lifting the crown to 3m restores safe clearance over both while leaving the upper crown, and the tree's height and form, unaffected. T2 - Pear - reduce. 7m in height. Reduce height by 1.5m from 7m to 5.5m. Reduce laterals by 1m from 3.5m to 2.5m. A Pear standing beside the public footpath, directly below a street lamp column. The crown has grown up into and around the lamp head, where it blocks light from reaching the footpath. Reducing the height by 1.5m brings the crown back below the lamp, and the lateral reduction keeps the tree balanced and clear of the column. T3 - Plum - fell. 6m in height. Fell tree to just above ground level. The stump will be left in place. A self-seeded Plum growing in the rear garden, too close to the neighbouring birch (T5) and the boundary to develop into a good specimen. A native pollinator will be planted as a replacement. T5 - Birch - crown reduce. 15m in height. Reduce height by 3m from 15m to 12m. Reduce laterals by 1.5m from 6m to 4.5m on all compass points. A mature Birch in the rear garden, the largest tree on the site, standing close to the house and neighbouring gardens. The reduction cuts will be made to suitable growth points so that the tree's form and its amenity value are maintained. T6 - Ash - fell. 8m in height. Fell tree as close to ground level as possible. The stump will be left in place. An self seeded ash growing approximately 1m from a nearby structure. No pruning work can resolve a stem this close to a structure, so felling is proposed now, while the tree is still of a manageable size.