The major new community in East Devon known as Cranbrook has broken ground, with first phase infrastructure construction well under way. FLAC has been involved in the project since 2005 with our blueprint for tree retention helping shape the development at a strategic level. Challenges include the successful intergration within the design of numerous veteran trees and high quality hedgerows, as well their physical protection during construction. For more information about Cranbrook, please visit:
http://www.exeterandeastdevon.gov.uk/Cranbrook/
Also starting on site is a new regional Marie Curie Cancer Care hospice in Solihull. FLAC has been intimately involved in this project since its inception, and provided crucial evidence in support of the facility during often febrile planning negotiations, conducted against a backdrop of occasionally bitter local opposition to development on a greenfield site. Fortunately, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council Members appreciated the benefits that the new hospice would deliver and consent was granted early in 2010. FLAC is now engaged to ensure proper protection of trees agreed for retention, and is working with the contractors Willmott Dixon to deliver the project to the end-users. The new hospice is the subject of a concerted fundrasing effort; to find out how you can help please visit:
http://www.mariecurie.org.uk/en-gb/fundraising-volunteering/big-build-west-midlands-hospice-appeal/