Protected trees may be axed in Shrewsbury retail park plan
More than a dozen protected trees will have to be removed to make way for a planned expansion of Shrewsbury's Meole Brace Retail Park, it has emerged.
Proposals have been submitted to build three units next to the current TK Maxx store under the plans, submitted on behalf of Coal Pension Properties. Firms such as Subway, Greggs, Costa Coffee and Caffe Nero are understood to be in discussions about taking on some of the new units.
An arboricultural impact assessment has been carried out, with 17 individual trees, three groups and one hedge surveyed.
The trees, which are a mixture of ash, Scots pine, Swedish whitebeam and silver birch, are currently subject to a Shropshire Council tree preservation order.
The impact assessment, carried out by chartered arboriculturist Phill Harris, said 13 trees and one group would have to be removed if the extension plans were given the go-ahead.
But he said their loss could be offset by planting 15 new native trees at a different location on the retail park.
Mr Harris said: "From the information provided my appraisal subsequently determined that implementation of the proposal will require the removal of 11 moderate quality trees, two low quality trees and one low quality group, most of which are young.
"However, the remainder of the surveyed trees, in particular the majority of the wider group, can evidently be retained, and the necessary losses are therefore projected to have only a minor impact upon the visual amenity of the local landscape.
"Furthermore, it is projected that the necessary tree losses can be adequately mitigated for through the provision of 15 new native trees planted elsewhere on site."
The proposals are linked to plans to build a supermarket at the retail park currently occupied by Carphone Warehouse.
The supermarket plans were approved in July 2013, with the scheme due to create around 80 jobs.
No official announcement has been made on what retailer will move into the new supermarket or when work will begin.
One of the proposed new units would be a replacement building for Carphone Warehouse, with no final decision made on who will occupy the other two stores. But talks are taking place with four retailers.
