The work is being done around Milner House, which is outside the conservation area, so no permissions is required. However, there were planning conditions from before the flats were built, so a planning application (approval of detail) was submitted to the council - see http://acolnet.lewisham.gov.uk/LEWIS-XSL...mkey=63707

But the planning application is just for a few trees, others don't need them.

Hopefully the work (which will be going on for a few days) will including tidying some of the areas that have become seriously overgrown and make it difficult to walk on the pavement and neighbouring paths. At the same time I am expecting to finally get some light into my back garden so that the lawn and the vegetables might be able to grow without a four storey sycamore tree killing everything (although I'm told that they won't actually reduce the height - which is a shame).