The Lincoln Council Planning Committee met on Wednesday 1 October 2025 to discuss works to trees, and planning applications for Kingsley Street, the Cornhill Market, and The Terrace.

Applications for Development

The committee was scheduled to discuss three planning applications.

9-55 Kingsley Street

The committee was scheduled to consider an application for the replacement of existing planter beds with timber planter units, the replacement of existing ramps and railings, and the creation of four additional parking spaces with associated resurfacing and drainage works at 9-55 Kingsley Street, Lincoln.

The application was brought to the Planning Committee because the City of Lincoln Council was the applicant.

The relevant policies to be considered were:

• National Planning Policy Framework
• Policy S49 Parking Provision
• Policy S53 Design and Amenity of the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan Adopted April 2017

The issues to be assessed were:

1. Accordance with national and local planning policy
2. Impact on amenity of neighbouring uses
3. Impact on visual amenity
4. Highway safety, access, and parking

The existing courtyards at the site comprised four planter beds, with informal parking provision for up to four vehicles located between these beds. The planting areas are delineated by low brick walls and are somewhat underutilised, featuring low hedging and a mixture of perennial planting. The western courtyard includes two existing pedestrian access ramps located on the north and west elevations, and the eastern courtyard has three pedestrian access points situated on the west, north, and east internal elevations.

The proposed scheme involves the removal of the existing planter beds to facilitate the creation of two additional formal parking spaces within each courtyard, resulting in a total of six marked parking bays per courtyard. To enhance the landscaping and soften the visual impact, four new timber sleeper planting beds would be introduced within the surrounding pedestrian zones. The existing pedestrian ramps will be refurbished and replaced to meet current accessibility standards¹. A new ramp and entrance will be created on the western internal elevation of the west courtyard to improve access. The courtyards will be resurfaced with macadam², incorporating clearly defined vehicular and pedestrian zones, and parking bays will be formally marked.

Cornhill Market, Sincil Street, Lincoln

The committee was scheduled to discuss an application for listed building consent for internal alterations to the recently refurbished and extended Cornhill Central Market, a Grade II listed building³ located within the Cathedral and City Centre Conservation Area No 1, which is owned by the City of Lincoln Council.

The current proposals were submitted by the City of Lincoln Council, hence the reason for presenting the application to Planning Committee.

The relevant policies to be considered were:

• National Planning Policy Framework
• Policy S57: The Historic Environment

The issues to be assessed were:

• National and Local Planning Policy
• Effect on the Special Architectural Character and Historic Interest of the Listed Building

The Terrace, Grantham Street, Lincoln

The committee was scheduled to discuss an application for retrospective planning permission for a vertical flue that had been added to the frontage of Block B of The Terrace, a City Council owned building located within the Cathedral and City Centre Conservation Area.

The relevant policies to be considered were:

• National Planning Policy Framework
• Policy S53: Design and Amenity
• Policy S57: The Historic Environment

The issues to be assessed were:

• Accordance with National and Local Planning Policy
• Design and Impact on Visual Amenity, Character, and Appearance
• Impact on Residential Amenity
• Highways, Safety, Access, and Parking

Works to Trees

The committee was scheduled to discuss proposed works to trees, predominantly trees in City Council ownership. The report pack noted that the list of proposed works did not represent all the work undertaken to trees in Lincoln, but it covered all the instances where a tree is in City Council ownership and identified for removal, or where a tree enjoys some element of protection under planning legislation, and thus formal consent is required.

The report pack stated that all relevant ward councillors are notified of the proposed works for their respective wards prior to the submission of the report, and that the relevant portfolio holders are advised in advance in all instances where, in the judgement of officers, the matters arising within the report are likely to be sensitive or contentious.

The report pack also listed the City Council's strategic priorities:

• Let's Reduce All Kinds of Inequality
• Let's Deliver Quality Housing
• Let's Enhance Our Remarkable Place
• Let's Address the Challenge of Climate Change

The report pack contained a schedule of proposed tree works:

1. Birchwood Ward: Retrospective notice of removal to ground of 3 x Pine and 1 x Field Maple associated with 25 Elvington Road in Birchwood Nature Park. All four trees were identified as potential causes of damage to the adjacent building, as identified by a submitted structural engineer's report. It was recommended that the trees be replaced with 4 x Silver Birch, to be located in suitable positions within the grassland verge located along Pershore Way.
2. Birchwood Ward: Retrospective notice of height reduction to 5 metres of 2 x Willow at 23 Muirfield Close, adjacent to Birchwood Nature Park. These trees were comprised of multiple stems attaining a height of over 20 metres, and work was undertaken to remove the possibility of stem failure onto the adjacent buildings. It was recommended that regeneration be managed to reduce stress forces on basal stem unions.
3. Birchwood Ward: Retrospective notice of tree removal of 1 x Scots Pine in Hospital Plantation, to rear of Staverton Crescent. This tree was severely compromised due to the presence of Honey fungus, leading to basal decay of the trunk. It was recommended that the tree be replanted with a replacement Scots Pine, to be located in a suitable position within the adjacent woodland margin.
4. Birchwood Ward: Remove to ground 1 x Hawthorn in Briar Close grassland verge. This tree has a significant open cavity within its base, and the shell thickness of the retained trunk places the tree at high risk of failure. It was recommended that the works be approved and the tree be replanted with a replacement Hawthorn, to be located as close as possible to the original position of the removed tree.
5. Boultham Ward: Retrospective notice of Removal to ground of 2 x Poplar at Boultham Allotments. During recent surveys it was discovered that these trees exhibited substantial defects which placed them at heightened risk of future failure. It was recommended that the works be approved and the trees be replanted with suitable native species, to be placed in suitable locations within Boultham Park.
6. Carholme Ward: Retrospective notice of tree removal of 1 x Domestic apple and 1 x Ash at Long Leys allotments - Plot 101. Both trees exhibited significant basal defects which placed them at an elevated risk of unpredictable failure. It was recommended that the trees be replaced with 2 x Silver Birch, to be planted in suitable positions within Whitton's Park.
7. Carholme Ward: Remove to ground 1 x Horse Chestnut at Willis Close cut through path, adjacent to number 10 Burton Road. This tree is in severe decline and has lost 80% of its canopy cover. It was recommended that the works be approved and the tree be replanted with 1 x Callery pear, to be located as close to the position of the original planting as practicable.
8. Carholme Ward: Retrospective notice of 8 metre height reduction of 5 x Poplar at Carholme Golf Course. These trees designate the fairway between holes number 10 and 11, and the main scaffold branches of these trees have extensive lever arm which places the canopies at high risk of tear out, so work is intended to remove the possibility of future collapse. It was recommended that regrowth be managed to control lever arm development.
9. Castle Ward: Remove to ground 1 x Cherry at 39a Anzio Crescent. This tree has caused extensive damage to the adjoining property boundary which has since been rebuilt, and removal is requested to prevent on-going damage. It was recommended that the works be approved and the tree be replaced with a suitable Cherry cultivar in the adjacent grassland.
10. Hartsholme Ward: Retrospective notice Removal of 2 x Sycamore at 3 Thornton Close, a void housing property. These trees were located in close proximity to the adjoining property boundary and were preventing boundary maintenance from being undertaken. It was recommended that the trees be replaced with 2 x spindle, to be located within amenity grassland on Hemswell Avenue.
11. Hartsholme Ward: Remove to ground 1 x Silver Birch at 4 Finningley Close, woodland to rear. This tree is of poor form and is at risk of failure into the rear garden of number 4. It was recommended that the works be approved and the tree be replaced with 1 x Silver Birch, to be located in a suitable position within Hartsholme Country Park.
12. Hartsholme Ward: Remove to ground 1 x Sycamore at 84 Birchwood Avenue, a void housing property. This tree is located directly on the boundary of the property and is preventing fence line management, and the tree is also likely to be structurally compromised due to the structure of the main co-dominant stem union. It was recommended that the works be approved and the tree be replaced with 1 x English Oak, to be located in a suitable position on the highway verge to the front of the property.
13. Minster Ward: Retrospective notice of tree removal of 1 x Rowan at Rolleston Close flats, a housing property. This tree was retained as standing deadwood and was removed in the interests of health and safety. It was recommended that the tree be replaced with a cockspur thorn, to be located as close to the position of the original tree as possible.
14. Moorland Ward: Remove to ground 1 x Birch at 1 Westwick Gardens, a void property. The base of this tree is compromised due to an open cavity that encompasses approximately 50% of the diameter of the trunk. It was recommended that the tree be replanted with 1 x Alder, to be located in a suitable position within Boultham Park.
15. Park Ward: Retrospective notice of Tree removal of 1 x Rowan at Hermit Street flats. This tree was retained as standing deadwood. It was recommended that the tree be replanted with a replacement Rowan, to be located as close to the position of the original tree as possible.