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Manbey Grove

Our initial design proposal for managing the mature trees on Manbey Grove.

These changes are designed to provide a safer walking route, and provide more even shade along the length of the road.

We hope you will provide your input by clicking the 'Add a response' button, or stop by our pop-up event on the 28th (see below for more information).

Phases

Phases overview

Phase 1: Consultation

Consultation

Consultation

July 10, 2026 11:00 PM - September 7, 2026 10:59 PM

Following on from the Kerbside Greening workshops in autumn 2025, where Manbey Grove residents had an opportunity to raise issues and share ideas on the Manbey Grove street environment, the Council has developed some early design proposals to respond to long-standing issues with existing trees.

ManbeyPh1_A3.pdf

(3.2 MB)

23 responses

User 4558223 days ago I strongly oppose the felling of these healthy trees. Their large cooling canopies have been a lifesaver during the recent heatwaves, and there will certainly be more of those in years to come. They not only provide shade, but mitigate flood risk and keep the air clean (not to mention support a huge ecosystem of birds and insects). All these things surely have cost benefits which should be factored in when considering the relatively lesser cost of the build-out. Keep the trees. And plant more!

Charlotte Harris5 days ago The ash tree outside No 20/22 has no disease and no structural fault. The only reason given for felling it is a pavement obstruction, and that has an affordable, proven fix: an accessible build-out, used across London to resolve exactly this conflict between mature trees and pedestrian access. They cost a fraction of felling a tree, removing the stump, and planting and establishing a replacement that will not deliver the same benefit for decades.This tree cools the street in summer heatwaves, absorbs rainfall as flash flooding becomes more frequent, and cleans the air we breathe every day. A young sapling cannot do any of that. It will not shade the street, manage stormwater, or support the insects and birds this tree already supports, not for thirty years or more.Under standard council valuation methods, this mature tree is worth tens of thousands of pounds. Felling it does not solve accessibility, it just moves the cost and loses the benefit. If accessibility is the problem, fix accessibility. Build the access. Keep the tree. And more tree planting yes we support - can we do better and plant more! As a resident for 25 years I full support the loss of parking spaces. And use climate resilient species that have larger canopies and work harder - Arbutus and Hawthorn are small garden trees not street trees; trees like Honey Locust are far more suitable. We need to be planting trees that shade and help the folks living and walking through Manbey Grove in 50 years time when London will have the temperature of Barcelona.

Catriona Knox5 days ago I welcome the council's commitment to planting more trees on Manbey Grove, but do not agree with the felling of either of the mature ash trees when build-outs are being recommended elsewhere. Any diseased areas can and should be managed before any felling takes place.More trees are great, thank you! But they have to be the right trees. Several of the proposed species, including strawberry tree (arbutus) and hawthorn, are small, ornamental varieties. They're lovely trees, but they simply don't grow large enough to provide meaningful shade, cooling, or absorb flash rainfall.The proposal currently allocates smaller species to the south side of the street and larger species to the north. Both sides need large canopy trees. This is a short-sighted decision. Decisions made now will shape how liveable this street is for the next fifty years, through summers that will get hotter and winters that will get wetter. A street planted mostly with small garden-scale trees will not cope with what's coming.Please consider revisiting the ambition of the numbers as well as the species list so both sides of Manbey Grove receive equivalent weighting of large canopy trees.

Steve Cox1 week ago

Fay Minty1 week ago

Sarah Coleman2 weeks ago Broadly in favour of the proposal. However would argue that no healthy trees should ever be removed, so the one outside number 22 should be kept, and pavement / road adjustments made.Would there be room to have even more trees, especially large shade trees? We need to be adding as much canopy cover as possible as the climate gets hotter. Supportive of the diverse range of trees to promote biodiversity. Think there is the opportunity to be more ambitious though. Would it be possible to consider more rain garden sites additionally, perhaps at the Grove end of Manbey Grove, or more parklets, similar to the Rotterdam tile flipping model?

User 7733963 weeks ago

Clare Farrell 3 weeks ago

Stephen Darke4 weeks ago If the established trees are diseased, I understand their removal. If they are simply being removed because of root upheaval I'd keep the. While I can completely understand concerns around wheeled access, as the road itself is so quiet now it seems pretty safe to travel along the road itself (there are sufficient drop kerbs). Just a note to say more broadly how great the street looks now. While I would have liked to see some more novel ideas (lavender plantations! an Iron Maiden mural!) it looks so much better than before and feels very safe to walk and cycle down.

Graham Redman1 month ago I am grateful for the time and thought put into these proposals. The build outs are something residents have been requesting for some time to resolve the issues with the pavements. I am strongly supportive of introducing more trees and putting them in the street is an appropriate way to gain potential suds type tree pits and prioritise pedestrians on this quiet residential street. A net loss of parking spaces is a perfectly acceptable compromise and I support the reduction in number. I believe the climate emergency also makes it important that all new trees are large shade trees. There should be a variety, and I would like to request that the tree between No 2 and Lavender Street is a Honey Locust, which is another tree on Kew Garden's list of climate suitable trees.I do not support the removal of the tree at No 22. If there is not enough money to pay for another build out there now, or if the reaching a resolution on a suitable design takes too long, then a decision on this tree should be postponed until a future scheme can resolve. Given that the pavement issues on the north side of the street will have been resolved, this seems like an acceptable compromise to retain a healthy and shade providing tree that is providing many tens of thousands of amenity benefits.

User 5779211 month ago I am broadly supportive of this plan. Saving as many of the street's trees as possible is important, particularly given the role they play in cooling the street. Building out the pavement around the trees to keep it accessible for all users is a sensible solution.I would ask, however, whether more of the parking provision can be preserved. The street is usually at capacity. A number of houses have removed their front gardens to create driveways, and several of these have also had their kerb dropped, converting a public parking space into a private one. Given this existing pressure on supply, any further reduction should be considered carefully.I understand that Newham Council is currently conducting a parking and kerbside space review, covering supply and demand across the borough. I would ask that this proposal be reassessed in light of the review's findings if possible.

User 5503711 month ago I would like additional street parking to be added to the proposal. I do not have a drive and it is often difficult to find a parking space on the road. The number of parking spaces has already been reduced on the street due to the cycle scheme and neighbours illegally converting front gardens into driveways. Parking is important for residents on the street and these shared spaces should not be removed. Perhaps there could be incentives to convert unused driveways back into gardens and add parking spaces back onto the street?

User 6260001 month ago We agree with the removal of the tree outside 21 as the arboriculturist has recommended . The roots are still raising the pavement up and our driveway making it unsafe for the public . The same for the tree outside 22 . The tree outside 21 is dying and pieces of the branches are continually falling off in the wind . This is unsafe for the public . Newham council have a duty of care to make the pavement safe . The build outs for the tree 25 will not solve the trees roots continually growing and undermining another pavement . The staggered planting of a variety of trees is a good idea , but they must be maintained on a regular basis so they don’t get out of control .

Gregory Moffatt2 months ago

Kerena Fussell2 months ago It would never be my preference for mature trees to be removed. However, using Manbey Grove several times a week, I am aware of the damage being done by the trees earmarked for removal. The idea of building out to allow space around the trees is great- and if it could possibly be extended to the trees being proposed for removal, that would be a better option. The other elements of the scheme look great.

User 5489642 months ago

Jacqueline Rappoport2 months ago

Community Campaigner David Barton2 months ago

Noah Shoesmith2 months ago

sangeeta sengupta2 months ago I am very sad to hear about the proposal to cut down the two trees on Manny Grove.The road is already restricted and appears to be used mainly by local residents. I understand the concern that there is currently not enough space for prams or wheelchair users to pass safely. However, I do not believe cutting down these mature trees is the right solution.Instead, the pavement could be extended around the trees, with the road narrowed so that one vehicle can pass at a time. Manby Grove is a quiet residential road with limited access from both ends, so this could be a practical alternative.These are beautiful, established trees that add character to the road, support wildlife and benefit the local environment. Once they are removed, they cannot easily be replaced.I firmly oppose this proposal and ask the council to explore other options that improve pedestrian and wheelchair access while protecting the trees.

Dee Knoyle2 months ago

Anna Sinnott2 months ago

Clement Murphy2 months ago

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Event date: July 28th, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
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