CONCERNS raised about a housing developer felling trees during bird nesting season have stopped the work going ahead.

Bloor Homes was looking to chop the trees down at the entrance to the Golf Club in preparation to build 1,000 homes on the site, after being granted permission for the development by the borough council last year.

The developer was in discussion with Hampshire County Council’s Highways department regarding removing the trees to create an access to the site and was hoping to carry this out before the bird nesting season.

However, concerns were raised because the bird nesting season – which runs from February to August – had already begun when the request was made. 

Cllr Stephen Reid, Hampshire County Councillor for Basingstoke South West, wrote to council officers raising concerns, and said he received a response to say Bloor Homes would delay the felling.

He told the Gazette: “I am pleased that Bloor Homes are not planning to fell the trees right now. I am always sad to see healthy trees taken down and more so if there is any risk of it happening during the nesting season. I know, from the reaction to the Hounsome Fields timing last year, that many people share this concern.

"I hope that the trees that are taken out will be replaced by new planting. Given the amount of development planned for the South West of Basingstoke, this is a huge issue that must be handled sensitively."

Last year, Vistry Homes Thames Valley delayed tree felling on the A30 to make way for the 750-home Hounsome Fields development, opposite the golf club, after residents complained it would be done during bird nesting season in May.

Bloor Homes has declined to comment.