Community charity is seeking arboricultural support for supported housing in Cranford

What do they need help with?

Shelter Community is seeking pro bono tree survey and arboricultural consultancy support to progress the redevelopment of a vacant church site in Cranford, Hounslow. The proposed scheme would deliver a new community hub, church facility and supported housing for approximately 25 to 30 young people at risk of homelessness.

The project also includes the sensitive renovation of the existing rectory building. This would provide accommodation for a guardian family, alongside shared communal dining and lounge facilities. Together, the new and renovated spaces would create a supportive, community-led model of care for vulnerable young people in West London.

Arboricultural input is critical at this stage. The site is currently vacant and adjoins a public park, with a number of established trees located close to and along the site boundary. These trees represent both a constraint and an opportunity for the development. Professional assessment is needed to help Shelter Community progress the scheme with confidence.

Without a robust tree survey and specialist advice, the charity cannot accurately define the developable envelope of the site, resolve the layout of proposed buildings, or provide the evidence base likely to be required by the Local Planning Authority at pre-application and application stage.

Shelter Community is seeking support from an experienced arboriculturist or tree surveyor to complete a BS 5837:2012 tree survey. This would include identifying, tagging and categorising all trees on and immediately adjacent to the site, including their condition, quality classification and amenity value.

The charity also needs Root Protection Area mapping for retained and boundary trees, to inform the site layout and identify any constraints on foundations or ground-breaking works. Further support is needed with a development impact assessment, including consideration of construction methodology and any required protection measures.

Where trees within the site are of low retention value, Shelter Community would also welcome support to provide a clear, reasoned justification for their removal. This would help support the planning application and demonstrate that any impact on wider green infrastructure is proportionate and mitigated.

Shelter Community can provide drawings, site photographs and further background information to support the assessment.

Timeline

As soon as possible

About the organisation

Shelter Community is a registered charity founded in 2013 to create safe homes for young people in a community setting. Its mission is to support young adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness by providing accommodation, relationships, encouragement and practical support to help them build positive futures.

The charity currently runs the Youth Community Home in Chiswick, providing supported accommodation for up to nine young people in housing need. Young residents receive safe and affordable accommodation, one-to-one support through professional key workers, volunteer coaching, practical life skills support, shared meals, community activities and move-on support.

Shelter Community works with referral partners including New Horizon Youth Centre and Housing Justice, helping young people access support that is appropriate to their needs. Its approach aims to prevent rough sleeping and homelessness, improve housing stability, build confidence and wellbeing, develop life skills, support engagement with education and employment, and create a stronger sense of belonging.

Shelter Community hopes to open a move-on home for eight young people by the end of 2026 and is working with a church in Cranford towards a planning application for supported accommodation.

https://www.sclondon.org/