PLANS have been approved for engineering works for “the stabilisation of land” at a Cardiff supermarket to facilitate further engineering works “in the interests of safety”.
Sainsbury’s has been granted permission from Cardiff Council for “engineering works for the stabilisation of land, comprising associated groundworks, erection of a replacement boundary fence and arboricultural works to trees where necessary to facilitate the implementation of the engineering works in the interest of safety.”
According to the application, the proposed works are “essential to secure the safe repair and replacement of a collapsed party wall to the north of the site.”
It continues: “At present, the surrounding land has failed and remains unstable, necessitating immediate engineering intervention to re-stabilise the area and prevent any further ground movement.”
The Sainsbury’s location is at Excalibur Drive in Thornhill, Cardiff.
A “limited” number of trees within the TPO (tree protection order) protected will need to be removed “solely to enable safe access and sufficient working space”, however the removals are restricted to what is “strictly necessary in the interests of safety and land stabilisation”.
However, the loss of trees will be mitigated through the planting of replacement trees.
Planning documents read: “Several of the trees proposed for removal are already dead or in a dangerous condition, and their loss would therefore not result in unacceptable harm to public amenity.
“Overall, the extent of tree removal is proportionate, justified and tightly constrained.”
The officer’s planning report reads: “It is considered that the proposal would not be overbearing or generally un-neighbourly to justify concern for the local planning authority.”
It continues: “It is envisaged that the proposal would not have any un-neighbourly impact upon adjacent residential properties to the north at Woodlawn Way.”
Later in the application, the works are called “necessary to ensure safety, prevent further instability and allow for the repair and replacement of the boundary structure”.
