Sparsholt Tree Surgeon
Tracker · updated 9 October 2026

What Winchester City Council decides on tree applications

We read Winchester City Council's published decision lists and logged every individual tree case: Tree Preservation Order applications and conservation area notices. Across 71 tree decisions in 2026, 60 were permitted or met no objection, and 2 were refused.

Search the decisions
60 of 71tree applications and notices permitted or met no objection
30 of 30decided conservation area notices met no objection
21 of 23requests to fell went through
Just 2refusals: one oak reduction, one holly felling
Findings

Five things the 2026 decisions show

1. Conservation area notices go through

A conservation area notice gives the council six weeks to decide whether a tree deserves a Tree Preservation Order. In every one of the 30 decided notices we logged, the council raised no objection. None was stopped by a new order.

2. Felling isn't A COMPLETE DEAD END

21 of 23 felling requests went through. Most gave a reason the list records: dead or dying trees, decay, ash dieback, a pine lifting a driveway, or leylandii crowding other trees. The one refused felling was a holly in central Winchester.

3. Measured wording is the norm

When requests are approved, they describe the work in numbers: "reduce by 2–3m", "thin by 10%", "lift to 5m", "reduce lateral branches by 1.5m". A precise description lets a tree officer judge the effect, whereas vague wording like "cut back" doesn't.

4. Stating a reason helps

30 of the 71 cases gave a reason in the published summary, such as decay, clearance over a roof or a dead tree. None of those 30 was refused. Neither refused case had a reason in its summary, though the full applications may have contained more.

5. TPO applications carry more risk than notices

Both refusals and 8 of the 9 withdrawals were TPO applications, not conservation area notices. A TPO tree has already been judged worth protecting, so it gets much more careful scrutiny, and a refused oak reduction in Whiteley shows that even pruning isn't guaranteed.

Sparsholt: three cases, three approvals

A decaying ash with a bracket fungus, reduced by 2–3m (February). A yew lifted to give 1.5m clearance over a garage (July). A yew reduction under a conservation area notice (late August). All went through.

The data

Every tree decision we've logged

Filter by area, type of request, work or outcome. Case numbers can be looked up on Winchester's planning applications site for the full documents.

Decision listAreaRequestWorkSpeciesReason givenOutcomeCase
6–23 Jan 2026Bishop's WalthamConservation area noticeFellChusan palmWall damageNo objection26/00016/TPC
6–23 Jan 2026CrawleyConservation area noticeReduceCotoneaster; yew–No objection25/02498/TPC
6–23 Jan 2026DenmeadTPO applicationFellAshAsh diebackWithdrawn25/01914/TPO
6–23 Jan 2026DenmeadTPO applicationReduceOakClearancePermitted25/02244/TPO
6–23 Jan 2026DenmeadTPO applicationLift and reduceOakClearancePermitted25/02245/TPO
6–23 Jan 2026Wickham and KnowleConservation area noticeFell and reduceLeylandii; copper beech; London plane; cypress–No objection25/02281/TPC
6–23 Jan 2026New AlresfordTPO applicationFellSilver birchThinning a groupPermitted25/02336/TPO
6–23 Jan 2026SwanmoreTPO applicationMixed worksMixed woodland–Permitted25/02181/TPO
6–23 Jan 2026WhiteleyTPO applicationReduceOak–Refused25/02233/TPO
6–23 Jan 2026WinchesterTPO applicationReduceLimeDecay (bracket fungus)Permitted25/02205/TPO
6–23 Jan 2026WinchesterConservation area noticeFellRowanHalf deadNo objection25/02253/TPC
6–23 Jan 2026WinchesterTPO applicationFellPineHalf deadPermitted25/02275/TPO
6–23 Jan 2026WinchesterTPO applicationReduceBeech–Permitted25/02309/TPO
6–23 Jan 2026WinchesterConservation area noticeReduce and deadwoodIrish yewFailed branchNo objection25/02389/TPC
6–23 Jan 2026WinchesterConservation area noticeReduceRobinia; maple; ironwood–No objection25/02443/TPC
6–23 Jan 2026WinchesterTPO applicationMixed works12 speciesDecayWithdrawn25/02464/TPO
6–23 Jan 2026WinchesterTPO applicationMixed worksLime; ash; plane and others–Withdrawn25/02465/TPO
6–23 Jan 2026WinchesterTPO applicationMixed worksPlane; lime; ash and others–Withdrawn25/02466/TPO
6–23 Jan 2026WinchesterConservation area noticeLift; fell dead treeMixed group; ashDead treeNo objection25/02499/TPC
6–23 Jan 2026WinchesterConservation area noticePollardLime (3)–No objection25/02502/TPC
6–23 Jan 2026WinchesterConservation area noticeFellElder; pittosporum; Portuguese laurelDead or dyingNo objection25/02583/TPC
6–23 Jan 2026WinchesterConservation area noticeFellCordyline–No objection25/02643/TPC
6–23 Jan 2026WinchesterConservation area noticeFellViburnum tinus–No objection25/02644/TPC
6–23 Jan 2026HuntonConservation area noticeReduceSycamore–No objection25/02250/TPC
6–23 Jan 2026Stoke CharityConservation area noticePollardWillow–No objection25/02504/TPC
6–23 Jan 2026Wonston and MicheldeverTPO applicationFellHorse chestnutDecay (bracket fungus)Permitted25/02104/TPO
6–23 Jan 2026Kings WorthyTPO applicationFellScots pineLifting a drivewayPermitted25/02099/TPO
6–23 Jan 2026WinchesterConservation area noticeFellSycamore (3)Poor conditionNo objection25/02453/TPC
2–20 Feb 2026Colden CommonTPO applicationWorks to surveyNot stated–Permitted25/02542/TPO
2–20 Feb 2026Colden CommonTPO applicationReduceOak–Permitted25/02631/TPO
2–20 Feb 2026CrawleyTPO applicationReduceYew; cotoneaster–Withdrawn26/00165/TPO
2–20 Feb 2026ShedfieldTPO applicationReduce and deadwoodOak–Permitted25/02607/TPO
2–20 Feb 2026SparsholtTPO applicationReduceAshDecay (bracket fungus)Permitted25/02364/TPO
2–20 Feb 2026WinchesterTPO applicationReduceBeech; weeping beechDecayPermitted25/02454/TPO
2–20 Feb 2026WinchesterTPO applicationReduce; sever ivyHawthorn; beech; lime; cypress; sycamore–Permitted25/02555/TPO
2–20 Feb 2026New AlresfordTPO applicationLiftSycamore; cypress; field mapleClearancePermitted25/02373/TPO
2–20 Feb 2026New AlresfordTPO applicationThin and liftLime–Permitted25/02505/TPO
2–20 Feb 2026New AlresfordTPO applicationRemove regrowthLimeClearancePermitted25/02510/TPO
2–20 Feb 2026New AlresfordConservation area noticeReduceBirch–No objection25/02164/TPC
2–20 Feb 2026WinchesterConservation area noticeFellSycamore (3)–No objection25/02350/TPC
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026Bishop's WalthamTPO applicationReduceOakOverhanging housePermitted26/00887/TPO
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026Bishop's WalthamConservation area noticeWorks to scheduleNot stated–No objection26/00906/TPC
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026Colden CommonTPO applicationReduce and liftOak (2)–Permitted26/01009/TPO
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026Compton and ShawfordTPO applicationLift; deadwood; reduceOak (2)–Permitted26/00961/TPO
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026Compton and ShawfordTPO applicationRemove limbAshOverhanging wallPermitted26/01057/TPO
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026Compton and ShawfordConservation area noticeFellLeylandii (3); ash–No objection26/01178/TPC
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026CrawleyTPO applicationFell and deadwoodDouglas fir and othersDying treesPermitted26/01114/TPO
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026HursleyConservation area noticeFellAsh (6)Ash diebackNo objection26/01128/TPC
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026HursleyConservation area noticeFellCypress (2)DeadNo objection26/01294/TPC
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026HursleyConservation area noticeFellLeylandiiCrowding other treesNo objection26/01299/TPC
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026Kings WorthyConservation area noticeFellCedar–No objection26/01170/TPC
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026New AlresfordConservation area noticeReduceBay–No objection26/01363/TPC
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026South WonstonTPO applicationReduceBeechBranches on roofPermitted26/01148/TPO
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026SparsholtTPO applicationLiftYewClearance over garagePermitted26/00946/TPO
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026SobertonTPO applicationReduceOak (3)–Permitted25/02161/TPO
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026Wickham and KnowleTPO applicationLift and reduceHorse chestnut (group)Overhanging gardenPermitted26/00949/TPO
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026Wickham and KnowleTPO applicationFellHorse chestnutDeadPermitted26/00995/TPO
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026Wickham and KnowleTPO applicationReduceOak (2)–Permitted26/01052/TPO
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026WinchesterTPO applicationFellHolly–Refused25/00852/TPO
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026WinchesterTPO applicationThinHornbeam–Permitted26/00367/TPO
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026WinchesterTPO applicationReduceSycamore (2)–Withdrawn26/00978/TPO
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026WinchesterTPO applicationReduce and liftHazel; sycamore–Withdrawn26/00979/TPO
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026WinchesterTPO applicationLift and reduceField maple–Withdrawn26/01037/TPO
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026WinchesterConservation area noticeFellAsh–No objection26/01362/TPC
29 Jun–10 Jul 2026WinchesterConservation area noticeFellBay–No objection26/01365/TPC
24 Aug–4 Sep 2026New AlresfordConservation area noticeReduceSycamore–No objection26/01539/TPC
24 Aug–4 Sep 2026SparsholtConservation area noticeReduceYew–No objection26/01536/TPC
24 Aug–4 Sep 2026WinchesterConservation area noticeReduceMagnolia–No objection26/01551/TPC
24 Aug–4 Sep 2026WinchesterConservation area noticeLift; fell one treeSycamore; holly; walnut; birch and others–No objection26/01556/TPC
24 Aug–4 Sep 2026WinchesterConservation area noticeReduceNorway mapleBird droppingsWithdrawn26/01568/TPC
24 Aug–4 Sep 2026WinchesterConservation area noticeReduceBirch; cedar; holm oak–No objection26/01620/TPC
Method

How this tracker works

Winchester City Council publishes lists of decided planning applications. We read each list, picked out every TPO application (TPO) and conservation area tree notice (TPC), and recorded the area, the work, the species, any reason in the summary and the outcome. We leave out addresses.

Lists logged so far: 6–23 January, 2–20 February, 29 June–10 July and 24 August–4 September 2026. Some other lists we checked, from August and September 2026, contained no tree cases. The lists vary a lot in length, so treat the outcomes as the useful signal, not the number of cases per month.

We add new lists as they're published and update the date at the top of this page.

This is general information compiled from public records, not legal advice. If you spot an error, email info@sparsholttreesurgeon.co.uk.

How We use this for your trees

  • We describe the work in metres or percentages, as the approved cases do.
  • Then we give the reason: decay, clearance, a dead tree, damage to a wall or drive.
  • For a TPO tree, you can expect closer scrutiny and a longer wait for the written decision.
Questions

Questions about council tree decisions

How often does Winchester City Council refuse tree applications?

Rarely, in the 2026 lists we logged. Of 71 tree applications and notices, 2 were refused and 9 were withdrawn. The rest were permitted or met no objection.

Can I see a neighbour's tree application?

Yes. Tree applications are public. They appear on the council's weekly lists, and the documents can be viewed on Winchester's planning applications site using the case number or address. For TPO applications, neighbours are also notified and a site notice goes up.

What does "no objection raised" mean?

It is the council's response to a conservation area notice when it decides not to protect the tree with a TPO. The work described in the notice can then go ahead.

What does "withdrawn" mean?

The applicant withdrew the application before the council made a decision. The published lists don't give a reason.