Council asked to reject "unacceptable" removal of Scarborough tree cut down six months ago

​A retrospective planning application for the removal of a ‘healthy’ Scot’s Pine tree in Newby has been recommended for refusal over the “significant harm” caused to the area.

​Dr Gaafar’s proposal at 79 Cross Lane seeks to officially vary planning conditions to create a driveway and “regularise” the tree’s removal, but councillors on the Scarborough and Whitby Area Whitby Committee have been asked to refuse the application.

​Officers said the tree’s “unacceptable” removal had resulted in “significant harm to the biodiversity and natural species of the area, resulting in a harmful net loss of biodiversity”.

​Several objections to the plan have been lodged by the Highway Authority, Newby and Scalby Town Council, and the council’s tree and woodland officer.

​One representation was received from neighbouring resident, Eben Redfern, who stated: “The tree in question was cut down and removed by the homeowner on March 1, 2025.

“A shed was built in its place.”

​The tree is no longer visible in Google’s Street View images captured in April 2025.

The Highway Authority said the scheme, which proposes a new parking area, would compromise visibility for vehicles entering the junction, increase the risk of conflict between turning traffic and vehicles accessing the driveway, and undermine pedestrian safety due to reduced sightlines.

​According to council planners, an original condition for the new-build housing scheme at the site stated that all trees should be maintained by the owner of the land for five years following completion of the project.

​The construction of the six three-bed semi-detached dwellings was approved in December 2022.

​A report prepared for the committee, which meets today (Thursday, November 13), states that the visually prominent tree “contributed positively to the character and appearance of the site and surrounding area.

​Officers said that “to accept parking to the front of the host dwelling would […] result in significant visual harm on the appearance of the site and the host dwelling.

​“In addition to the above, this element of the proposed works was also discouraged within a pre-application response to the applicant”.

​The report concludes: “The removal of this tree has resulted in a contravention of the original landscaping condition, and the application to vary this and allow its removal would be fundamentally at odds with the aforementioned policy.

​“The result of this has been significant harm to the biodiversity of the site and its appearance.”