| Abstract: |
Baseline information has been gathered within a1kmradius of the site(hereby referred to as the ‘study area’). This search radius is considered sufficient to produce a comprehensive baseline for the site and will allow for an understanding of the archaeological potential and historic significance to be established, and subsequently for appropriate mitigation to be recommended for the proposed development regarding heritage. The DBA follows the 2017 updated Chartered Institute for Archaeologists’ (CIfA) Standard and Guidance for Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment, and Historic England’s Conservation Principles, Policies and Guidance (Historic England, 2008). The CIfA guidance outlines the necessity of the DBA to enable appropriate mitigation strategies where necessary, in line with the local and national policies in place. The following actions have been undertaken for this assessment:
●An examination of local, regional and national planning policies in relation to the historic environment;
●A search of the Historic England National Heritage List for England (NHLE) dataset for designated heritage assets within the study area;
●A search of the Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire HER for archaeological sites, archaeological findspots, locally listed buildings, archaeological priority areas and archaeological event locations within the study area;
●A search of the relevant published and unpublished archaeological sources within the wider area via the Archaeological Data Service (ADS);
●A search of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) database for additional findspots within the study area;
●An examination of relevant aerial imagery held by the National Collection of Aerial Photography(NCAP);
●An examination of Google Earth Pro, for historic images;
●An examination of the British Geological Survey (BGS) data;
●An inspection of the cartographic evidence for the land use history of the site;
●An examination of the other available online historic sources (identified in footnotes where relevant); and,
●A site walkover, undertaken on in order to determine the topography, existing land use and character of the area.
●A visit to the Oxfordshire History Centre to consult historical maps and documents. Enquiries were also made to the Northamptonshire Archive for any relevant material. This DBA has been undertaken to assess the likely historic environment impacts of development proposals at Banbury STW. This assessment has incorporated a review of the available data from the HER within the study area. Within the study area there is one scheduled monument, seven Grade II listed buildings, three Conservation Areas and three non-designated built heritage assets. It is not anticipated that there will be any impact upon the significance of these assets, as there are no physical changes to the assets or any proposed works that would result in an alteration to their setting. The archaeological potential of the entire area of Banbury STW for archaeological deposits within the site is considered to below for the prehistoric, medieval and post-medieval periods, and negligible for all other periods. It is anticipated that there has been considerable truncation within the area of the Site as a result of multiple phases of development within the STW. The survival of archaeological remains has been discounted for the proposed site of the CHP and adjacent installations. However, there is insufficient GI data to fully determined the extents of truncation within the expected area of other aspects of the works. Without this data, there remains the possibility for the survival of archaeological remains beneath the level of any made ground or in areas of less disturbance, and therefore the potential for the disturbance of archaeology as a result of the scheme. |
