Squiggs
TS Team
I've spotted some interesting additional details in the planning docs, that might illuminate why the plans were changed and indication of some further actions that might need to occur before construction can begin.
At the same time as the amended plans were submitted, the Consultation Response SMDC Arboricultural Office was also uploaded to the system. This consultation relates to both the original and updated plans, and makes it pretty clear that the council requested changes to the original plans to protect the woodland characteristics of the site.
The original plans would have resulted in 66% of the trees on the site, with particular concern that the loss would have a dramatic effect on the park's woodland belt. The consultation refers to conversations with Alton Towers that resulted in the amended plans, which now only results in the loss of 21.5% of the trees in the site boundary. The consultation notes that some of the trees now slated for removal are more mature, but this is weighed out by saving an additional 29 trees.
The consultation report also reveals some of the planning conditions that are likely to be in place if the plans are approved. One of which is the relatively standard condition that 'There shall be no removal of any trees, shrubs or hedgerows during the bird nesting season (nominally March to August inclusive)'. There is a workaround available to this, so work theoretically could begin before August, but it would result in significant extra work on the part of the park and so might not be worth the additional resources.
Not least because the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal also recommends that further bat surveys will be required, a recommendation echoes by the SMDC Arboricultural Office. The recommendation states that at least two of these surveys should occur between May – August, so any construction would be contingent on the results of those surveys (and potential mitigations if they do find any roosts).
Based on what's in the documents, it seems increasingly likely we won't see construction start before September at the earliest. Obviously this is based on recommendations, so it is not guaranteed that these will form part of the permission, but it would be surprising if these conditions weren't adopted, as they are similar to those we saw on Horizon and Toxicator's permission.
Probably worth also saying that based on the actions of the council and park, it is now almost certain that these modified plans will be approved. So, short of some unexpected commercial reason cropping up at Merlin, we can be pretty confident at this point that Postman Pat Parcel Post will close this season.
At the same time as the amended plans were submitted, the Consultation Response SMDC Arboricultural Office was also uploaded to the system. This consultation relates to both the original and updated plans, and makes it pretty clear that the council requested changes to the original plans to protect the woodland characteristics of the site.
The original plans would have resulted in 66% of the trees on the site, with particular concern that the loss would have a dramatic effect on the park's woodland belt. The consultation refers to conversations with Alton Towers that resulted in the amended plans, which now only results in the loss of 21.5% of the trees in the site boundary. The consultation notes that some of the trees now slated for removal are more mature, but this is weighed out by saving an additional 29 trees.
The consultation report also reveals some of the planning conditions that are likely to be in place if the plans are approved. One of which is the relatively standard condition that 'There shall be no removal of any trees, shrubs or hedgerows during the bird nesting season (nominally March to August inclusive)'. There is a workaround available to this, so work theoretically could begin before August, but it would result in significant extra work on the part of the park and so might not be worth the additional resources.
Not least because the Preliminary Ecological Appraisal also recommends that further bat surveys will be required, a recommendation echoes by the SMDC Arboricultural Office. The recommendation states that at least two of these surveys should occur between May – August, so any construction would be contingent on the results of those surveys (and potential mitigations if they do find any roosts).
Based on what's in the documents, it seems increasingly likely we won't see construction start before September at the earliest. Obviously this is based on recommendations, so it is not guaranteed that these will form part of the permission, but it would be surprising if these conditions weren't adopted, as they are similar to those we saw on Horizon and Toxicator's permission.
Probably worth also saying that based on the actions of the council and park, it is now almost certain that these modified plans will be approved. So, short of some unexpected commercial reason cropping up at Merlin, we can be pretty confident at this point that Postman Pat Parcel Post will close this season.
