Developers 'very sorry' for destroying hedgerows contrary to planning permission - The Rugby Observer

Developers 'very sorry' for destroying hedgerows contrary to planning permission

Rugby Editorial 17th May, 2019 Updated: 17th May, 2019   0

DEVELOPERS are ‘very sorry’ they breached conditions of planning permission by ripping up hedgerows at a housing site in Ashlawn Road.

David Wilson Homes and Gallagher Estates have been told to stop work at the site after Rugby Borough Council (RBC) confirmed they removed more hedgerow than allowed, The Observer exclusively revealed on Wednesday (May 15).

The developers, who had approval to cut down some hedges and trees to create two entrances to the site, explained they had submitted an amendment requesting permission to remove more to make way for a cycleway and a water drainage channel.

A spokesperson for David Wilson Homes East Midlands said: “Unfortunately the work was undertaken before the amended plan had been submitted and approved, and for that we are very sorry.




“No wildlife was harmed during the removal of the hedge and no nesting birds were found by our consultant ecologist who carried out a full investigation before work commenced.”

They said they would plant “extensive new hedgerows” to “mitigate for the hedge losses during construction”, adding the development would include six new ponds, green corridors, parks and gardens.


RBC’s Planning Enforcement Team and Legal Department are working “to take appropriate action” after the council instructed the developers to stop work until they have submitted a Construction Environment Management Plan – a condition of planning permission – and “explained how they will compensate for the loss of additional hedgerow”.

An archaeological team working on behalf of the developer is continuing to work at the site.

‘Horrified’ and ‘heartbroken’ residents on The Observer’s Facebook page have described the developers’ actions as ‘appalling’ and ‘barbaric’, and called for them to be fined and made to replace the hedgerow.

Complaints from residents prompted RBC and Warwickshire County Council (WCC) to inspect the site when the hedges were removed last week.

And Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’s Director of Living Landscapes Ian Jelley told The Observer: “Planning laws set out clearly the steps which should be taken to protect wildlife. If the correct process has not been followed then enforcement action should be taken.”

David Wilson Homes’ and Gallagher Estates’ initial planning application to build 860 homes, a primary school and two new roads on fields north of Ashlawn Road between the water tower and Sainsbury’s was rejected by RBC in February 2016 on the grounds it would increase traffic and pollution in the area, and would not provide the infrastructure to mitigate this.

But the developers’ appeal against that decision – in which they ‘strongly disputed’ the council’s findings and argued “residual impacts cannot be described as adverse or severe” – was upheld by the Government in July 2017.

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