| Abstract: |
Baseline information has been gathered within a 500m radius from the site boundary (hereby referred to as the ‘study area’) for non-designated heritage assets; a 1km radius has been used for designated heritage assets. This search radius is considered sufficient to produce a comprehensive baseline for the site. This will allow for an understanding to be established of the archaeological potential and historic significance as well as any alterations to setting, and subsequently for appropriate mitigation to be recommended for the Scheme
regarding the historic environment.
This technical note has been informed by desk-based research, utilising the following sources:
● 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 East Sussex Historic Environment Record (HER) for archaeological sites, archaeological findspots, locally listed buildings, archaeological priority areas and archaeological event locations within the study area;
● An examination of Google Earth Pro, for historic aerial images;
● An examination of the British Geological Survey (BGS) data;
● An inspection of the cartographic evidence for the land use history of the site; and
● An examination of the other available online historic sources (identified in footnotes where relevant). The site of Priory Car Park in Hastings is located within 1km of two Scheduled Monuments, one Grade II* Registered Park and Garden and 237 Listed Buildings. The site is located within Hastings Town Centre Conservation Area, which is also recognised on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register as in a deteriorating poor condition. The site is intervisible with two Grade II listed buildings, one of which (United Reformed Church Formerly Congregational Church is also recognised on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register as being in poor condition and at immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric.
Data obtained from the East Sussex HER indicates that there is a high potential for archaeological remains of medieval date, namely relating to the former priory, and a low potential for archaeological remains of all other periods. However, the extent that such remains survive is currently unknown.
The proposal involves the demolition of buildings within a conservation area, however these buildings make a negative contribution to the setting of a number of designated assets and do not add to the character of the conservation area. The proposed demolition and redevelopment of the Priory Car Park site presents the opportunity to add value to heritage assets that have been lost through the construction of this building. This could include enhancing the character of Hastings Town Centre Conservation Area and improving
the setting of the United Reformed Church Formerly Congregational Church.
The extent of survival of archaeological remains is currently unknown, however excavations to the south revealed the priory at a depth of 1.5m below the current ground level. Therefore, despite the development of the car park, there is potential for archaeological remains to survive at some depth. Should remains of the medieval priory survive in good condition, the scheme should seek to conserve the asset in situ, through design adaptations. There may also be the opportunity to engage the public with the asset, if its survival is considered exceptional. |
