South Stoneham Cemetery airport tree management

SIAL is requesting a licence to carry out tree works that will affect visitors to the cemetery.

SIAL is requesting a licence to fell 19 mature trees and manage 10 others in South Stoneham Cemetery to remove obstacles from flight paths.

SIAL are making the request following a Civil Aviation Authority audit. This identified these trees as non-compliant with the regulations about managing potential obstacles in the vicinity of the airport.

No, the trees are not protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) nor are they in a conservation area. However, the council has an adopted tree policy which offers a level of protection equivalent to TPOs for council-owned trees.

The trees alongside the main avenue are estimated to be 85–90 years old. This is based on historical photographs and having likely been planted during the cemetery’s early development.

The removal of these trees will have an impact on the cemetery and wider local environment. It affects an area close to several important ecological designations:

• A Site of Importance for Nature Conservation
• A Site of Special Scientific Interest
• A Special Area of Conservation

The Cabinet report presents the option for further information to be obtained from SIAL. This is to assess the impact for bats and schedule one birds, should SIAL’s request be accepted by Cabinet. This additional information could be used to inform additional mitigation. This would need to be agreed before a licence is granted and before any works start.

SIAL currently operates below full capacity. This is due to restrictions imposed relating to the tree obstacles in its flightpaths. Therefore the removal will allow the airport to operate more efficiently. It will increase GVA (how much the airport contributes to the economy) by £75 million and create over 1,000 jobs locally. The airport is currently loss-making under the current restrictions.

The tree policy calls for lost amenity to be replaced to the same or greater extent. In this case, SIAL has offered a four-to-one replacement ratio, totalling 76 new trees. This is along with additional biodiversity enhancements and community benefits.

SIAL proposes:

• 76 replacement trees
• Bat boxes
• Habitat piles
• Wildflower meadow creation
• Community investments such as preschool upgrades, a defibrillator, noticeboard, memorial seating, and chapel refurbishment

Some uncertainty exists regarding the impact of the works and therefore what mitigation is appropriate. Should SIAL’s request be accepted by Cabinet, the option exists to look at additional measures before a licence is granted and any works start.

SIAL has committed to engaging with cemetery visitors and families about the planned works. They will seek input on landscaping and tree replacement.

SIAL has committed to stop any works when a funeral is taking place.

The final decision lies with Southampton City Council’s Cabinet. If the Cabinet supports the request, the option exists for further details to be sought. Mitigation measures will be agreed by officers before a licence is granted or works begin.

In this scenario, it may be that the Secretary of State would make an order under the Civil Aviation Act 1982 (section 46). This will mandate the tree works on council land and authorise SIAL to carry them out. In this circumstance, the council would be a consultee and not the decision maker.

At this stage, we do not have start or end dates for the works. These will be agreed if the request is supported and this page will be updated with the details.

This will be confirmed if the request is supported.

Any accidental damage will be repaired by the contractor or SIAL.