A Section 78 Appeal has recently been determined that included the Inspector accepting that a 1000 lorry per day HGV route through Ancient Woodland could be delivered without unacceptable impact. The route was the subject of a meticulous multi-disciplinary design study by FLAC, Aspect Ecology, Barton Willmore Design and Ardent Consulting Engineers. As well as the physical structure being fully detailed according to lowest impact principles, it was also proposed to use development funding to reverse the structural and biodiversity decline of the woodland that had set in following the Great Storm of 1987. FLAC Principal JFL considers that this establishes a working precedent, whereby development within Ancient Woodland can be accommodated where it is demonstrated that a) there would be no material harm arising from it and b) a clearly identifiable benefit would accrue.