500 signatures reached
To: Norwich City Council Cabinet
Save the King Street trees!
We're calling on Norwich City Council to save street trees on King Street.
The King Street Stores site on King Street has been empty for some time, and we’re pleased it’s being brought back into use. However, the plan to remove the seven mature trees in order to redevelop this site doesn’t recognise natural, living heritage or the importance of biodiversity. Bats have been sighted in the area, and these established trees provide important habitats for them as well as birds and other wildlife. We believe the trees should be saved, and the site still developed, and that this can be done by changing the local plan.
Why is this important?
Many residents have also expressed concerns about air quality in the area. Trees are important for improving air quality, along with other measures to reduce pollution, and newly-planted saplings can’t provide the same benefits as these existing trees.
Norwich and the city council cannot address the climate crisis if mature trees fail to be protected. The council’s own planning policy, DM7, says that trees should be kept as an integral part of development, and that they should be protected during the development work. These trees are healthy, provide benefits for the street, and should therefore be kept.
We also believe that, although policy CC8 of the emerging Greater Norwich Local Plan calls for the streetscape along King Street to be restored, this isn't appropriate for this part of the street. Although keeping the look of our historic streets is important, retaining the trees and biodiversity should be prioritised on this site. Significantly, this site is opposite modern flats owned by Norwich City Council, which are set back from the road, so this end of King Street doesn't benefit from the re-establishment of the streetscape requirement that is important to development further up the road. Also, next door is Wensum Sports Centre, where there is very little likelihood of the restoration of live frontages.
We therefore ask the cabinet of Norwich City Council not to endorse policy CC8 of the emerging Greater Norwich Local plan and to prioritise street trees and biodiversity in this location.
