Sylvan, the specialist brand co-owned in JV with Aspect Ecology, was instructed to undertake a Historic Landscape Assessment of woodland at Raithwaite Estate, being at the time listed within the Ancient Woodland Inventory.
The context for the instruction was refusal of planning permission for a holiday village within the woodland by Scarborough Borough Council, on grounds (inter alia) of loss of ancient woodland, in accordance with an objection lodged by Natural England.
Through forensic field-work and meticulous document analysis, Sylvan was able to show that the woodland was not in fact ancient, a conclusion subsequently accepted by Natural England. Prospects for planning are now somewhat improved…
For more information about Sylvan, please visit www.sylvan-consulting.com