Proposals to remove trees and vegetation as part of Corby Towns Fund project

06 March 2025

Works are continuing to deliver the Corby Station link road project, which aims to improve the public realm and provide an attractive and safe pedestrian/cycle connection between the town centre and the train station. 

The scheme has been designed to avoid the removal of mature trees along the route as far as possible, to preserve the street scene. However, some trees have been identified for removal and North Northamptonshire Council are currently consulting on the plans. 

It is proposed that alongside removal works, a programme is put in place for a planting within the scheme but also for other spaces across Corby.

The maximum number of trees identified for potential removal are 40, this will be continually evaluated as works progress and only trees which are identified as absolutely necessary will be removed, if the plans go ahead. Of those trees proposed for removal, a significant number are already dead, posing a safety hazard to pavement and road users, or are affected by Ash Dieback disease and need to be removed as part of our council wide programme to tackle this national challenge.

There are two main areas of the scheme where unfortunately some trees are proposed for removal to enable works – in one location this is due to the pavement needing to be widened to ensure safety of users and the other where the ground level is being raised to safely close the underpass and create a public amenity area.

The consultation is in line with national guidance which requires councils to consult on the removal of ‘street trees’ which meet certain criteria. Any trees that are already dead or identified as having Ash Dieback do not require consultation. In this case this means that the council will be consulting on 20 trees which are due to be removed for the works and any tree covered by the consultation will have a notice attached to it.

However, for transparency a notice will be attached to the dead or diseased tree or to the group of trees stating the reason they are being removed.

A significant tree-planting initiative is planned to replace these trees, with 300 being planted in the following areas:

• 150 trees along Oakley Road,
• 75 trees within the Tresham College grounds, 
• 25 trees in Coronation Park (these will be planted before the end of March 2025), 
• 12 trees in the area near KFC, 
• 38 trees in West Glebe Park.

The trees have been chosen from varieties that are well suited to the location and will provide a mixture of benefits to the area such as spring flowering and autumn colour, a mix of both younger (between 1.8m-2.1m high) and more mature trees (between 2.4-3.0m high) are being planted. Some will be planted before the end of the planting season in March, the remaining will be planted in the next planting window from December 2025 and a maintenance plan will be in place to support their development and growth. 

Due to the dense vegetation at certain points along the route additional low-quality shrubs and young self-set saplings are due to also be removed. These are not subject to consultation.

Following the consultation, it is proposed that trees are removed with extra planning and assessments being conducted for nesting birds throughout the works.

Any felled timber will be utilised in our woodland sites and will be cut down into 1 to 2 metre lengths and stacked up to create a log pile. This will create a small habitat providing a microclimate for wildlife such as newts, invertebrates and small mammals. The piles also create a safe place for hibernation.

This project is a balancing act and it is vital that we consider the wider long-term benefits to residents and the environment. By having a new, fit for purpose route between the station and town centre will encourage people to use more sustainable ways of travelling.

As part of this project, we have identified some trees and vegetation that need to be removed to enable the improvement works to take place. We have carefully reviewed all trees that are proposed for removal and any such removals will be kept to an absolute minimum.

It is regrettable that any trees must be removed and residents should be assured we’re following national guidance and undertaking a 28 day consultation. As a council, we have a tree strategy in place. With this in mind, we are committed to planting 300 new trees along the route and surrounding area to replace any trees that may be removed. All new trees will have a maintenance plan in place to make sure that the trees establish themselves and flourish.Cllr David Brackenbury, North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Member for Growth and Regeneration

Any work that will be completed follows reports and detailed surveys on all the trees impacted and residents can be assured that the team are working in a balanced way with only trees being removed that are absolutely necessary and following a consultation period. After the consultation has been completed, we will publish an update and decision notice.Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council

Information on the Corby station link road project, including more detail on the proposed tree works and how to submit comments, is available on the dedicated Corby Towns Fund website.

Any comments can be submitted by emailing [email protected], calling the Major Projects team on 01604 529 700 or by writing to the Major Projects team, 26 - 28 Bradfield Road, Wellingborough, NN8 4HB