LRB Feedback (Trees)_Redacted

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Environment, Housing & Infrastructure
Director: Gordon McNeil
Council Headquarters, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street
Paisley, PA1 1BR
www.renfrewshire.gov.uk 
Our Ref: Tree Enquiry LRB  
Contact:   
Telephone: 
E-mail:  
Date: 05/03/2024             
Private & Confidential 
Dear Mr Devine, 
Please find below detailed summary of Neighbourhood Services recent attendance and inspection of
Lochwinnoch trees upon your planning review request at LRB. Please note that this report is intended to
provide a technical, impartial view on the proposed development in the area. The content of this document is
the considered view of the service - Neighbourhood Services, and we hope this provides the information
requested. 
Attempting to build amongst the existing trees. 
The proposed piling system is a plausible solution for minimising physical root damage to trees onsite,
however, due to the immediate proximity of the adjoining trees the footprint of the building itself will likely
deprive moisture from the underlying soil which in turn would be detrimental to the surrounding trees.  It is
likely that the root system beneath the building footprint would over time be starved of moisture and suffer
nutrient depletion causing the affected roots to retrench. This would likely in turn incur loss of vigour and
dieback onset. 
Services are generally invasive so any gas / electric / fibre / water and waste routes will also likely be
detrimental to the rooting zones. The majority to this design concerns the immediate rootzones of the
adjoining trees. These do not appear to have been detailed at this stage of the development. Any form of
trenching towards the footprint of this design would incur some form of root damage. Due to the recent
felling works the wind exposure to the remaining trees on this site has increased. Any form of root damage to
the more suppressed / top heavy or one-sided trees should be avoided in the interests of public safety.   
Levelling the site to install the parking area would likely result in root damage to the adjoining trees. 
The removal of the existing fence line and erection of a boundary wall would also have a likelihood of causing
root damage to the adjoining trees. 
Overall, it is the view of the service and, after consideration of all of the above factors, support would not be
given to approve the application in the interests of preserving the trees, biodiversity and habitat. 
Best wishes,