| Abstract: |
The following resources have been consulted in the process of compiling the baseline information contained within this DBA; ● A search of the Historic England Heritage List for England (NHLE) dataset for World Heritage Sites, Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings, Registered Parks and Gardens, and Registered Battlefields within the study area; ● A search of Warwick District Council local plans for Conservation Areas; ● A search of the Warwickshire County HER database for non-designated archaeological sites, find spots, and non-designated historic buildings within the study area; ● An examination of local, regional, and nation planning policies in relation to the historic environment; ● An inspection of the cartographic evidence for the land use history of the site, including Ordnance Survey, tithe and earlier maps for the study area; ● An assessment of relevant published and unpublished historical sources, both online and archive resources, including previous archaeological surveys and investigations; ● An assessment of the geology of the sites, including boreholes logs or geotechnical investigations results; and ● Information on previous impacts to the site (previous developments, contaminated land, natural erosion etc). Longbridge STW is located in Longbridge, Warwick (eastings 427446, northings 263207). Construction of earlier areas of what is today the Longbridge STW began in 1868 with alterations through to the present. The Longbridge STW Side Stream Addition is to provide further treatment provisions as part of Severn Trent Water’s Green Recovery Project. To support recent increases in flow treatment, ten new treatment structures and storage tanks will be constructed to the east and south of the existing STW. There are no world heritage sites, scheduled monuments, listed buildings, registered battlefields, registered parks and gardens or conservation areas within the Scheme area. Within the 1km study area there is a scheduled cursus, with enclosures and other cropmarks, the grade I Registered Park and Garden of Warwick Castle, and ten other designated heritage assets. It is considered that the Scheme will not result in harm or impacts to the Grade I Registered Park and Gardens of Warwick Castle as the development area is well screened behind high bunds. Heights of the new structures have yet to be confirmed, but the existing bunds mean that there is no visibility between the Scheme area and Warwick Castle park. Similarly, it is considered the Scheme will result in no change to the setting of Warwick Castle. There may be known archaeological remains within the Scheme area from the early medieval period. A high status Anglo-Saxon cemetery was discovered and excavated in the area in 1875, however its precise location is unknown. Documentary evidence lists only an approximate location, as 500m west of Leafield Bridge, and archaeological excavations conducted in 1968 at the site of the present Longbridge STW ahead of redevelopment was unable to locate it. Furthermore, the deserted medieval settlement of Lee is located approximately 20m east of the Scheme area boundary, and there is some potential that part of this settlement may extend into the Scheme area. In order to effectively manage the established archaeological risk, including the potential for human remains to be present, it is recommended that a geophysical magnetometer survey be conducted over the site of proposed impact. Following the results of the geophysical survey Warwickshire Council Planning archaeologists may impose a pre-commencement condition detailing the requirement for a trial trench evaluation |
