Barratt Homes had been accused of reneging on commitment to preserve trees

Developers Barratt Homes say they removed an arcade of cherry trees on East Acton Lane due to their unhealthy condition and they will be replaced with an increased number of new ones.

It follows a furious reaction from local residents who have accused the developer of the site of the former Homebase, of going back on a promise to retain the trees.

Kathleen Chapple says that she received an assurance from Phil Robinson the director in charge of the development site at Savoy Circus at a public consultation meeting on the project.

She said, "At the consultation held in St Dunstan's Church earlier this year I was assured that the beautiful flowering cherry trees lining the boundary along East Acton Lane would be preserved. Today I walked past and they have been felled.

"Together with the fact that they have decided to increased the height and capacity of the development I am utterly appalled at their duplicitous and destructive policies. Barratts appear to have no interest whatsoever in the quality of life of residents of East Acton. "

Up until recently the site had been obscured by hoardings but just before Christmas it was noticed that the trees had gone. The purple leafed cherry plum trees are believed to be around thirty years old and it would take at least 15 years for any replacements to reach an equivalent level of maturity according to a horticulturist who we spoke to about the matter.

A spokesperson from Barratt Homes has sent this statement:

“It has always been our ambition for Western Circus to improve the landscape and greenery provision on and around the site. While our original intention was to retain the trees, as stated in our discussions with local residents during the public consultation for the scheme, a subsequent tree survey found the existing trees to be of low quality and of mixed health, due to past heavy pruning and crown reductions. As such, we agreed with planning officers at LB Ealing Council through the application process that removing the trees as part of the development at Western Circus would present an opportunity to upgrade the tree stock and landscaping across the site.

“Whilst our permitted application for Western Circus results in the loss off 36 existing trees and two tree groups on site, it also provides appropriate landscape mitigation in the form of new replacement planting comprising of 69 new trees. The value of the original trees was mainly to screen the Homebase carpark, whereas the permitted application is changing the character and use of the site and the new suite of trees proposed will positively reflect this. The plans will therefore deliver a net increase in both the number and quality of trees on the site, as well as improvements to the appearance and character of the street scene in this significant part of Acton.

“It is important to note that we anticipate that further changes will be made to the proposed landscape plan when two areas of land on the A40 and Old Oak Common Lane boundaries are transferred to TfL (as part of the approved consents legal agreement) in order to facilitate the delivery of the Mayor’s cycle superhighway, including pedestrian crossing improvements. The designs for TfL’s scheme are not yet finalised but the delivery of the cycle superhighway will require amendments to the landscape and public space along the A40 and Old Oak Common Lane, which will need to be agreed with LB Ealing in due course.”

January 17, 2019