Heritage and archaeology
An initial assessment of built heritage has been undertaken to inform and shape the illustrative masterplan, and analysis is ongoing in this respect. There are no designated assets located within the site. Within a 1.5km study area there is a single Scheduled Monument (an Iron Age hillfort), one grade I listed building (a Medieval church), one grade II * listed building (a Post-Medieval house), and 21 grade II listed buildings comprising two Medieval and 19 Post-Medieval buildings. There are no Conservation Areas, Registered Parks and Gardens, Registered Battlefields, or World Heritage Sites located within the study area.
Desk-based assessment, including analysis of local and online records, historic maps and aerial imagery, has identified that the site was most likely agricultural land for much of its past. The assessment identifies a medium potential for below ground archaeological remains dating to the Medieval period to be present within the site likely to be unstratified objects associated with agricultural practices within the natural geology or reworked into the ploughsoil. There is a low potential for below ground archaeological remains dating to the Palaeolithic to Early Medieval and Post-Medieval to Modern periods to be present within the site.
Discussions with the Local Planning Authority’s archaeologist will be held to agree an appropriate scope of more detailed evaluative works as the planning application moves forward.
Other technical considerations
A full suite of technical studies and assessments are being undertaken to inform the outline proposals. These include highways, flooding and drainage, ecology, heritage and archaeology, noise and air quality, utilities, land quality and ground conditions, and many more. The results of these studies will be reviewed and considered as plans progress and will be submitted as part of the planning application. It is, however, not anticipated that there will be any significant technical constraints to delivering a high quality, sustainable development at this site.