Reservoir Site, Bredfield Road, Woodbridge Arboricultural Implications Assessment Arboricultural Method Statement on behalf of AWG Land Holdings

Limited.

15th August 2007 Revised November 2008 (new layout)

Local Planning Authority: Suffolk Coastal District Council

The Landscape Partnership Ancient House Mews Church Street Woodbridge Suffolk IP12 1DH T. 01394 380509 F. 01234 386050 E.tlp@woodbridge.tlp.uk.com

Contents

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Introduction Site Arboricultural Implications Assessment (AIA) Methodology

Implication of Proposal on Retained Trees

Arboricultural Method Statement (AMS) Methodology Construction within the RPA of Retained trees and Shrubs Services Tree Protection Barrier Conclusion Appendix

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Introduction The British Standard 5837 2007 seeks to ensure the appropriate retention of trees on development sites. A combination of careful design to enable appropriate tree retention and new tree planting is required to ensure that the correct balance between trees and development is achieved. The proposed redevelopment of part of the Bredfield Road reservoir site includes a small block of flats, associated car parking and a communal garden area. The purpose of this arboricultural implications assessment is to identify areas where the proposed development may have an adverse impact on the trees, which are to be retained. A combination of special construction techniques and layout design may be required to achieve the appropriate balance between tree retention and development. The site The site is part of a larger parcel of land, which includes an Anglian Water operational reservoir and water tower. The site is set well back from the Bredfield Road site entrance and is bounded to the north by private gardens and to the east by a public footway, which runs from Saxon Road to Pytches Road. The site is accessed along a narrow roadway, which also serves the operational element of the reservoir site. Arboricultural Implications Assessment (AIA) Methodology The AIA uses information provided in the tree survey to identify areas where the proposed development construction may be at odds with accepted standards in terms of a trees requirement for space to maintain existing roots and shoots and space for future growth and development. This report should be read in conjunction with the tree survey report. The quality and relative importance of each tree is shown on the accompanying tree survey drawing as a coloured polygon. The colour used relates to the British Standard categories as follow: A, green B, blue C, grey and R red. Red trees are discounted as they are recommended for removal. In general the design process will try to retain A and B category trees. Proposed construction will therefore normally be excluded from the root protection area of A and B category trees.

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The root protection area (RPA) is shown as a circle on the tree survey drawing.
BS 5837 (2005) Number of Calculation Stems Single tree stem RPA(m ) (stem diameter(mm)@1.5m x 12/1000) x 3.142

Tree with RPA(m ) (stem diameter(mm)@1.5m x 10/1000) x 3.142 more than 1 stem arising below 1.5m above ground level NOTE The 12x multiplier is based on NJUG 10 [9] and published by Matheny and Clark [10]. 5.2.3 the calculated RPA should be capped at 707m, which is equivalent to a circle with a radius of 15m or a square with approximately 26m sides.

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Implication of Proposal on Retained Trees The following tree may be affected by the proposed development: T10 Elm Part of the proposed car parking area is within the root protection area of the tree. However the area affected is at the outer limit of the RPA and affects approximately 6.5% of the total area of the RPA. The construction of two car-parking bays within this small area of the RPA may result in some minor root loss. This potential root loss is well within accepted levels and is unlikely to have a measurable impact on the health and stability of the tree. However in the interest of good arboricultural practices a method of excavation, root pruning and reporting is outlined below. Given the relatively small area affected it is not necessary to utilise a no dig form of construction. T27 Sycamore A small area of this trees root protection area is within the working space required to construct the proposed building. The area affected will protected during the process of construction by the scaffolding. All activity in the area affected should be avoided. No other part of the proposed construction work is within the RPA of the retained trees. The proposed building is further form the trees than the existing building, enabling the return of parts of the site to soft landscaping.

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All of the surveyed trees are outside the site boundary to the northeast and southeast of the site. During the course of the day various elements of the site are shaded form direct sunlight. Whilst the level of shading may cause difficulties if the proposed development had been for houses with separate gardens it is unlikely to have a significant impact on the use of the proposed communal amenity space around the proposed flats as the whole area will be available to residents rather than the limited space of a fixed location garden. The issue of shading by the adjacent trees is therefore not considered a significant issue. Arboricultural Method Statement Methodology The arboricultural method statement provides the means by which areas of construction, identified in the AIA as being within the RPA of retained trees, can be achieved whilst minimising the impact of that construction on the affected trees and shrubs. The excavation of foundations on sites where trees are present may result in root damage and removal. Where root loss is likely to occur it is important that the removal of these roots is carried out in an appropriate manner so that the damage to the tree or shrub is kept to a minimum. Construction within the RPA of Retained trees and Shrubs Where the proposed car parking bays lie within the RPA of T10 excavation will be carried out by hand for the first 600mm or the required construction depth if less then 600mm. Roots encountered will be pruned back to approximately 100mm outside the side of the foundation trench and removed. If roots greater than 25mm in diameter are to be pruned the arboriculturist will be contacted. The site office will be located outside the RPA of trees as denoted by the location of the tree protection barrier. No materials or spoil will be stored within the RPA of T10. Services All service runs will be placed outside the RPA of trees on and adjacent to the site. Where it is not possible to achieve this, the section of service run which passes within the RPA of a tree will be hand dug in accordance with 'broken trenches (NJUG 10 para 4.6.1 appendix 1). This will ensure that tree roots are not damaged roots during the installation of the service. All root pruning will be agreed before hand with the named arboriculturist in consultation with the local authority arboricultural officer. All root pruning will be in accordance with BS

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3998: 1989. (Paragraph 14.3). All routes for overhead services will aim to avoid the trees. Where this is unavoidable any tree work will be agreed prior to commencement with the councils Arboricultural Officer.

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Tree Protection Barrier All trees that are to be retained on or in close proximity to the site will be protected by the use of a tree protection barrier erected in the location shown on the accompanying tree survey drawing. The fence will consist of Heras type panels or similar braced at appropriate intervals and secured to in place. The tree protection barrier will be erected prior to the construction phase of the development and remain in situ for the duration of the development and will only be removed once the construction phase is complete. Conclusion By modern development standards the redevelopment of this site provides the retained trees with sufficient space, safeguarding their root systems and canopies and allowing adequate space for their future development. The method statement for the practical construction of the car parking bays set out above is precautionary and reflects the fact that T10 is subject to the protection of a Tree preservation Order. It is unlikely that significant disturbance to the roots of T10 will occur during the construction of the development.

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10.0 Appendix 10.1 NJUG 10