• DESPITE prime minister Rishi Sunak’s net-zero U-turn, the government’s Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund is part-funding internal refurbishments, reinsulation and retrofit works to Auden Place estate in Primrose Hill.

Scaffolding is currently being erected across the estate. However tenants have just uncovered a planning application on the Camden plans portal to fell 16 trees on the estate to make way for the scaffolding.

A further eight trees are to be stooled (cut back to a stump) and all in a conservation area with each tree clearly labelled as having a conservation order. The landlord, Riverside (One Housing Group), has made no mention of the tree felling to the tenants.

Meanwhile Wates, the company undertaking the retrofit works, has repeatedly assured tenants that any obstacles can be easily bridged around using additional scaffolding and that there would be no problems.

If we are to destroy trees in order to decarbonise homes, what realistic hope is there of fighting climate change?

ALI MUSA
Auden Place Tenants’ Association, NW1