De Pol have successfully secured planning permission for a woodland management building on a 5ha site on the urban/rural fringe of Warrington, Cheshire. The proposal is thought to be the first of its kind in the authority area. The scheme involved appropriate management and thinning of woodland and installation of new tree stock which over its lifetime could see the planting of up to 30,000 new trees.
Key to De Pol’s success was keeping up to date on changes in planning legislation which allowed the client to obtain permission in less than four weeks from submission. There is quiet but growing support evident in central government for planning proposals that contribute to the reduction of climate change and provide opportunities for sustainable local businesses. The application received the backing from the local Parish Council following their visit to the site earlier this month.
Jonathan Cocking of JCA said of the scheme “Warrington and the surrounding area is a region where much of the forestry culture of previous years has been almost completely lost. However there is a rapid movement towards small operation woodland products and many relatively local woodland craft shows are on the rise. Development opportunities such as this play an important role in starting to revive this almost lost culture.”
De Pol prepared and led on all aspects of the planning application, instructing MBED Architects and JCA Aboricultural & Ecological Consultants to assist them on the scheme.