| Abstract: |
The following actions have been undertaken for this assessment: ● An examination of the local and national planning policies in relation to the historic environment; ● A search of the National Heritage List for England (NHLE) for World Heritage Sites, Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings, Registered Parks and Gardens and Registered Battlefields within the study area; ● A search of the Derbyshire Historic Environment Record (HER) and Leicestershire & Rutland HER for archaeological sites, archaeological findspots and other non-designated heritage assets within the study area (CDR12100); ● An examination of the relevant published and unpublished archaeological and historic sources e.g. journals and historic records; ● An examination of topographical and geological evidence; and ● A map regression exercise using historic maps, as available online, to determine previous land use of the Scheme area. This Preliminary Archaeology and Heritage survey has been produced by Mott MacDonald on behalf of Severn Trent Water to help inform the design and development works at Witches Oak WTW. Within the 1km study area there are two scheduled monuments, 48 listed buildings, four conservation areas and 89 non-designated heritage assets. It has been concluded that no built heritage assets would likely be impacted by the Scheme. This is due to the distance of these assets from the Scheme, the scale of works proposed and vegetation screening. The proposed development would not result in any harm to their significance. As the River Trent borders the eastern extent of the Scheme, the potential for paleoenvironmental remains is high due to the presence of alluvial deposits. Waterlogged conditions would allow for the preservation of paleoenvironmental remains dating from the Holocene period. Again, the relative closeness of the River Trent, as well as sporadic findspots and several cropmarks suggest a high potential for prehistoric archaeological remains. The potential for Roman remains is medium, as the cropmark enclosures and field systems could be of this date as well. There is medium potential for medieval and post-medieval archaeological remains, predominantly related to past agricultural activity. Ridge and furrow earthworks are depicted as cropmarks within the Scheme area. However, elsewhere where the sand and gravels remains, archaeological remains have the potential to survive. The Scheme has been subject to sand and gravel quarrying and where extraction has taken place, archaeological remains will no longer survive. Where the area has not been previously quarried, there remains the potential for prehistoric, Roman and medieval archaeological remains to survive. This is due to the extensive activity recorded on the Derbyshire and Leicestershire Historic Environment Records. Due to the potential impact on unknown archaeological remains, archaeological mitigation will likely be required during construction. Consultation with the Conservation, Heritage and Design team from Derbyshire County Council raised the possibility of traditional sub-surface archaeological deposits to survive on site, especially as previous archaeological investigations at Shardlow Quarry have revealed chance finds within palaeochannels, including a log boat. It was recommended once a final design is known, to establish which parts of the site were previously truncated and where the footprint of the works are proposed including any deep excavations which may impact existing palaeochannels. If there are any elements of the design which do not fall within previously impacted areas, then archaeological monitoring will be required during construction. |
