Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development

Desk-Based Assessment

Prepared by: The Environmental Dimension Partnership Ltd

On behalf of: Newport City Council

November 2020 Report Reference: edp5771_r001a

Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Contents

Non-technical Summary

Section 1 Introduction ...... 1

Section 2 Legislation and Planning Guidance ...... 3

Section 3 Methodology...... 7

Section 4 Existing Information ...... 11

Section 5 Heritage Assessment ...... 23

Section 6 Conclusions ...... 25

Section 7 References ...... 27

Images

Images EDP 1 - 14

Appendix

Appendix EDP 1 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development ASIDOHL Assessment

Plans

Plan EDP 1 Proposed Site Plan Solerac, Drawing No. EDD-DWG002.1, 07/03/2019 (edp5771_d001a 19 November 2020 AG/RS)

Plan EDP 2 Historic Assets in the Site and 1km Radius Study Area (edp5771_d002 22 November 2019 AG/CB)

Plan EDP 3 First Edition OS Map 1884 1:2500 (edp5771_d003 22 November 2019 AG/CB)

Plan EDP 4 OS Plan 1956-1969 1:2500 (edp5771_d004 22 November 2019 AG/CB)

Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

This version is intended for electronic viewing only Report Ref: edp5771_r001 Author Formatted Peer Review Proofed by/Date R001 CB FD AP FJ 261119 r001a - - - FJ 201120

Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

This page has been left blank intentionally

Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Non-technical Summary

S1 This desk-based assessment has been prepared by the Environmental Dimension Partnership Ltd (EDP), on behalf of Newport City Council, to inform planning proposals for solar development on land at Ebbw West, Newport.

S2 The assessment concludes that the site does not contain any world heritage sites, scheduled monuments, historic parks and gardens or listed buildings where there would be a presumption in favour of their physical preservation in situ and against development.

S3 The site is located adjacent and to the north of the Gwent Levels Historic Landscape (HLW(Gt)2), Eastern St Brides Character Area (HLCA015).

S4 Potential impacts upon the settings of designated historic assets in the wider study area have been considered. The assessment has followed Cadw guidance (2017a) to Stage 4, in that assets have been assessed as to whether they might be subject to an effect on their settings from the development of the site. The assessment has not identified any designated assets which are likely to have their settings affected by the proposed development of the site.

S5 The site has not been subject to previous archaeological or geophysical survey, or intrusive investigation, therefore the site’s archaeological resource is currently unknown. Desk-based assessment has identified that the site has a high potential for post-medieval remains relating to agricultural practices. Such remains would possess little evidential value, being of negligible heritage significance. The assessment has only identified a low potential for medieval agricultural remains, and for remains from earlier periods, which are not well-represented within the study area.

S6 It is deemed unlikely that buried remains would be of sufficient significance to warrant their preservation in situ. The features most likely to be found on the site would be of local significance, however, on occasion there have been discoveries of international value within the Gwent Levels and along the Usk and Ebbw Rivers. Modern impacts have been identified as having occurred within the site, which may have affected the survival of archaeological remains. During the 1980s, the site was used for landfill. The depth of the made ground is currently unknown although it is estimated at 1m-1.5m below ground level (blg). A forthcoming phase 2 contamination survey will provide more information regarding its depth. The solar panels are to be erected on concrete plinths, as will a substation. Groundworks will consist of trenching for services at a depth of 0.7m-1m blg, which is not expected to exceed the depth of the made ground. For this reason, this report will consider more the effect of the development on the setting of the Registered Historic Landscape than one which will affect any underlying archaeology.

S7 A consultation response was received from the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust (GGAT). This noted that the proposed solar development area is located to the immediate north and east of the Eastern St Brides Character Area. In respect of this character area and the Gwent Levels Historic Landscape, GGAT requested that a limited Assessment of

Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

the Significance of the Impact of Development on Historic Landscapes (ASIDOHL2) be undertaken to inform the planning application (EDP 2019).

S8 This assessment concludes that the proposed development would accord with national legislation and planning policy, as the settings of designated historic assets would be preserved, and no loss of significance has been identified. The proposals would also accord with local planning policy as the qualities of the historic environment would be preserved.

Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Section 1 Introduction

1.1 This assessment has been prepared by the Environmental Dimension Partnership Ltd, on behalf of Newport City Council, to inform planning proposals for a solar development on land at Ebbw West, Newport.

1.2 The first aim of this assessment is to identify and assess possible changes within the setting of designated historic assets and registered historic landscapes resulting from the proposed development of the site, and to determine whether, and to what extent, those changes will affect their heritage significance. The assessment has been carried out in accordance with the guidance set out in Cadw’s Setting of Historic Assets in Wales (published on 31 May 2017) and Cadw’s Guide to Good Practice on Using the Register of Landscapes of Historic Interest in Wales in the Planning and Development Process (2007).

1.3 The second aim of this assessment is to provide comment on the site’s archaeological potential (in accordance with the requirements of Planning Policy Wales (Edition 10), Technical Advice Note 24 (TAN 24) and local planning policy). This will consider a selection of available historical and archaeological resources for the site and is intended to add detail to a consultation comment, in reference to existing planning permission in place at the site, which is detailed below.

1.4 Following best practice and guidance, desktop sources have been checked and augmented through the completion of a walkover survey, undertaken in October 2019.

Site Description

1.5 The site is centred on National Grid Reference (NGR) 330530, 185290. Its location and layout are shown on Plan EDP 1.

1.6 The site comprises 4.6 hectares (ha) and is located on the western edge of the Ebbw River which flows in a southerly direction. It lies within a parcel of land that is bounded to the west by agricultural fields and is located 360m south of Newport and 460m east of Duffryn.

1.7 The site comprises the Ebbw West landfill, situated off Docks Way, Newport. It is irregular in shape and is divided into two grass covered fields separated by hedgerows.

1.8 The site is generally level ground at approximately 11m above Ordnance Datum (aOD). However, local undulations and hollows are evident across the ground surface as a result of variable settlement within the underlying landfill waste.

1.9 There is visibility between the site and the northern most part of the registered landscape. Hedgerows are planned to be planted to screen the site from the registered landscape.

1 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Geology

1.10 The British Geological Survey map for the area shows that the solid geology of the area is the Mercia Mudstone Group of the late Triassic. Deep marine or alluvial deposits overly the solid geology, whilst made ground covers these superficial deposits (BGS, 2019).

1.11 The site comprises a landfill. As such, a variable thickness of made ground/landfill waste is anticipated above the natural superficial deposits across the site. A landfill restoration capping layer (potentially comprising low-permeability reworked natural soils) is also likely to overlie the landfill waste. It should be noted that detailed information on the tonnage and depth of waste has not been made available, nor has detailed information with regard to the type and nature of the waste (Integral Geotechnique, 2019).

Proposed Development

1.12 A planning pre-application (P/19/00064)has been made for the proposed development of a solar farm illustrated on Plan EDP 1. The proposed development will comprise the installation of a new large-scale solar PV generator at the site, a significant number of ground mounted solar panels, cable runs, and larger infrastructure such as inverters/transformers and switchgear.

2 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Section 2 Legislation and Planning Guidance

Planning Policy Background

2.1 This section outlines the legislative and planning policy context, relevant to the form of development proposed, at both the national and local levels. These have been considered in the preparation of this assessment.

Legislation

2.2 In March 2016, the Historic Environment (Wales) Act came into force. Whilst providing a number of new provisions to existing legislation, the changes do not specifically affect the planning process, or the way archaeology and heritage is assessed.

National Planning Policy

2.3 National planning guidance, concerning the treatment of the historic environment across Wales, is detailed in Chapter 6 of Planning Policy Wales (Edition 10), published in December 2018 (PPW, 2018).

2.4 At Paragraph 6.1.2, it identifies the historic environment as being made up of individual historic features, archaeological sites, historic buildings and historic parks, gardens, townscapes and landscapes, collectively known as ‘historic assets’.

2.5 Regarding archaeological remains, PPW states at Paragraph 6.1.23, that: ‘The conservation of archaeological remains is a material consideration in determining a planning application, whether those remains are a scheduled monument or not’.

2.6 It then adds that:

‘…Where nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, and their settings are likely to be affected by proposed development, there should be a presumption in favour of their physical protection in situ. It will only be in exceptional circumstances that planning permission will be granted if development would result in an adverse impact on a scheduled monument (or an archaeological site shown to be of national importance). In cases involving less significant archaeological remains, local planning authorities will need to weigh the relative importance of the archaeological remains and their settings against other factors, including the need for the proposed development’.

2.7 Regarding historic landscapes PPW 10 states, at Paragraph 6.1.21, that:

‘Planning authorities should protect those assets included in the register of historic

3 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

landscapes in Wales… the sharing and use of evidence and assessments undertaken for wider reasons, such as the Green Infrastructure Assessments should be used to identify and better understand historic landscapes and ensure their qualities are protected and enhanced. The register should be taken into account in the decision making when considering the implications of developments which meet the criteria for Environmental Impact Assessments or, if on call in, in the opinion of the Welsh Ministers, the development is of a sufficient scale to have more than a local impact on the historic landscape. An assessment of development on a historic landscape may be required if it is proposed within a registered historic landscape or its setting and there is potential for conflict with development plan policy’.

Technical Advice Note 24

2.8 Additional heritage guidance for Wales is set out in Technical Advice Note 24: The Historic Environment (Welsh Government, 2017).

2.9 TAN 24 provides ‘guidance on how the planning system considers the historic environment during development plan preparation and decision making on planning applications’.

2.10 It clarifies the polices and distinctions made in PPW. A definition for a ‘historic asset’ is given as: ‘An identifiable component of the historic environment. It may consist or be a combination of an archaeological site, a historic building or area, historic park and garden or a parcel of historic landscape. Nationally important historic assets will normally be designated’.

2.11 Effects through changes within the settings of designated historic assets are covered in TAN 24 at Paragraphs 1.23 to 1.29. These paragraphs define the setting of an historic asset as:

‘…the surroundings in which it is understood, experienced, and appreciated embracing present and past relationships to the surrounding landscape. Its extent is not fixed and may change as the asset and its surroundings evolve. Elements of a setting may make a positive or negative contribution to the significance of an asset, may affect the ability to appreciate that significance or may be neutral. Setting is not a historic asset in its own right but has value derived from how different elements may contribute to the significance of a historic asset’.

2.12 TAN 24 also provides advice on factors to consider when assessing effects on setting. Paragraph 1.26 stipulates that it is:

‘…for the applicant to provide the local planning authority with sufficient information to allow the assessment of their proposals in respect of scheduled monuments, listed buildings, conservation areas, registered historic parks and gardens, World Heritage Sites, or other sites of national importance and their settings’.

2.13 Paragraph 1.29 goes on to state that:

4 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

‘The local planning authority will need to make its own assessment of the impact within the setting of a historic asset, having considered the responses received from consultees as part of this process. A judgement has to be made by the consenting authority, on a case- by-case basis, over whether a proposed development may be damaging to the setting of the historic asset, or may enhance or have a neutral impact on the setting by the removal of existing inappropriate development or land use.’

Local Planning Policy

2.14 The site is located within Newport City and local planning policy is currently set out in the Newport Local Development Plan 2011-2026 (LDP), which was adopted in January 2015.

2.15 Chapter 4 of the LDP contains policies concerned with the ‘Environment’, including the ‘Historic Environment’. There is no specific policy related to listed buildings. Regarding archaeology, Policy CE6 states that:

‘Development proposals will normally be required to undertake an archaeological impact assessment before the proposal is determined:

I) where groundworks and/or the installation of services are proposed within the archaeologically sensitive areas of Caerleon, the levels, lower Machen and the city centre; or

II) within other areas of recognised archaeological interest’.

2.16 The site is located within an Archaeologically Sensitive Area as defined by Newport City Council, thus justifying the need for the archaeology assessment presented in this report.

5 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

This page has been left blank intentionally

6 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Section 3 Methodology

Archaeological Assessment Methodology

3.1 This report has been produced in accordance with the Standard and Guidance for Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment issued by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA, 2014) and Heritage Impact Assessment in Wales (Cadw, 2017). These guidelines provide a national standard for the completion of desk-based assessments and heritage impact assessments.

3.2 In order to supplement the assessment, historic environment information from documentary, cartographic and aerial photographic sources was consulted. The major repositories of information comprised:

i. Cadw’s Historic Environment Service, for information on designated heritage assets;

ii. Data derived from the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Historic Environment Record (HER);

iii. Data derived from the National Monuments Record of Wales (NMRW), held by the Royal Commission for the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales (RCAHMW);

iv. Historic maps, derived from readily available online sources;

v. Aerial photographs held by the Central Register of Aerial Photography for Wales (CRAPW) at Cardiff;

vi. The Historic Wales online portal; and

vii. A site walkover survey carried out in October 2019.

3.3 This report provides a synthesis of relevant information for the site derived from a search area extending 1km from its boundary, hereafter known as the ‘study area’, to allow for additional contextual information regarding its archaeological interest or potential to be gathered and understood.

3.4 The assessment of the significance of designated heritage assets within the general vicinity of the site refers to the four ‘heritage values’ identified by Cadw within their Conservation Principles for the Sustainable Management of the Historic Environment in Wales document (Cadw, 2011). These consist of:

• The asset’s evidential value, which is defined as those elements of the historic asset that can provide evidence about past human activity, including its physical remains or historic fabric;

7 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

• The asset’s historical value, which is defined as those elements of an asset which might illustrate a particular aspect of past life or might be associated with a notable family, person, event or movement;

• The asset’s aesthetic value, which is defined as deriving from the way in which people draw sensory and intellectual stimulation from the historic asset; and

• The asset’s communal value, which is defined as deriving from the meanings that an historic asset has for the people who relate to it, or for whom it figures in their collective experience or memory.

Setting Assessment Methodology

3.5 In addition to the potential for direct impacts on the fabric of an asset, when assessing the impact of proposals on designated historic assets, it is important to ascertain whether change within its ‘setting’ would lead to a loss of ‘significance’. This assessment is made according to Cadw’s guidance Setting of Historic Assets in Wales (published on 31 May 2017).

3.6 In simple terms, setting ‘includes the surroundings in which it is understood, experienced and appreciated, embracing present and past relationships to the surrounding landscape’ (Cadw, 2011). It must be recognised from the outset that ‘setting’ is not a heritage asset and cannot itself be harmed. The guidance states that the importance of setting ‘lies in what it contributes to the significance of a historic asset’.

3.7 As such, when assessing the indirect impact of proposals on designated heritage assets, it is not a question of whether their setting would be affected, but rather a question of whether change within the asset’s ‘setting’ would lead to a loss of ‘significance’.

3.8 Set within this context, where the objective is to determine the potential for development to have an adverse effect on designated heritage assets beyond the boundary of a development site, it is necessary to first define the significance of the asset in question - and the contribution made to that significance by its 'setting', in order to establish whether there would be a loss, and therefore harm. The guidance identifies that change within a heritage asset's setting need not necessarily cause harm to that asset - it can be positive, negative or neutral.

3.9 Cadw’s guidance (Cadw, 2017) sets out a four-stage approach to the identification and assessment of setting effects; i.e.:

• Stage 1: Identify the historic assets which might be affected;

• Stage 2: Define and analyse the setting, to understand how it contributes to the asset’s heritage significance;

• Stage 3: Evaluate the potential impact of development; and

8 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

• Stage 4: Consider options to mitigate or improve that potential impact.

3.10 The assessment outlined below considers all four stages of this process.

9 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

This page has been left blank intentionally

10 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Section 4 Existing Information

Introduction

4.1 The following section details and contextualises the known archaeological and historic assets within the 1km study area. Designated and non-designated assets are shown on Plan EDP 2.

Designated Assets

Scheduled Monuments

4.2 There is one Scheduled Monument within the 1km Study Area. Castell Glas Castle Mound (MM190) is located 550m north-west of the site. The monument comprises the remains of a motte and ditch, dating to the medieval period. The mound is approximately 1.5m high and 35m by 25m in plan. Little is known of its history, but it was sold in 1622, and by 1645 was said to have ‘disappeared’. In the later Middle Ages, the castle belonged to the Earls of Lancaster and when Coxe visited it in 1800, the remains included a range of medieval stone buildings such as a square tower and possible hall block with a ‘fine Gothic entrance’, and large fireplace and several Gothic doors. The monument is of national importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of medieval defensive practices. The monument is an important relic of the medieval landscape, retaining significant archaeological potential.

Listed Buildings

4.3 There are no listed buildings within the site or 1km Study Area.

Conservation Areas

4.4 The site and 1km Study Area do not intersect with any Conservation Area.

Registered Parks and Gardens

4.5 The site and 1km Study Area do not intersect with any Registered Park and Garden.

World Heritage Sites

4.6 Neither the site nor the 1km Study Area fall within any World Heritage Site.

Registered Historic Landscape

4.7 The site is adjacent to the Gwent Levels Registered Historic Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest in Wales (Ref number HLW(Gt)2).

11 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

4.8 The Outstanding Historic Landscape of the Gwent Levels comprises three discrete and extensive areas of alluvial wetlands and intertidal mudflats situated on the north side of the Severn Estuary, representing the largest and most significant example in Wales of a 'hand-crafted' landscape. They are entirely the work of man, having been recurrently inundated and reclaimed from the sea from the Roman period onwards. The areas have distinctive patterns of settlement, enclosure and drainage systems belonging to successive periods of use, and a proven and possibly quite vast potential for extensive, well-preserved, buried, waterlogged, archaeological and palaeoenvironmental deposits surviving from earlier landscapes.

4.9 The following description, taken from the Historic Landscapes Register, identifies the essential historic landscape themes in the historic character area.

4.10 The Gwent Levels are an extensive low-lying area of estuarine alluvium located on the north side of the Severn estuary in south-east Wales, between Cardiff and the River Rhymney in the west and Chepstow on the River Wye in the east. Topographically the Levels are taken as extending south of the 10m contour line, approximately the fen edge or interface with solid geology to the north (roughly coinciding with the modern east-west line of the London to Cardiff railway), though they are generally at their lowest near the boundary with the solid geology.

4.11 The Levels are a landscape of extraordinarily diverse environmental and archaeological potential. Although they are an important wetland resource in their own right, archaeologically the area contains a variety of landscapes of different dates, and nowhere else is it possible to make the period distinctions so easily. Man's past activities in the area have been governed by the vast tidal range within the Severn Estuary, which has seen major and minor fluctuations in the heights and range of tides since the last glaciation, caused by variations in both the land and sea level. The Levels reflect man's evolving and often precarious relationship with these circumstances over the last 10,000 years.

4.12 Having been reclaimed from the sea at various times during the historic period, the present land surface is a supreme example of a 'hand-crafted' landscape, artificially created and entirely the work of man, preserving clear evidence of distinctive patterns of settlement, enclosure and drainage systems. However, because of recurrent phases of inundation and alluviation, there is also a proven, and quite possibly vast, potential for extensive, buried, waterlogged, archaeological and environmental deposits belonging to the earlier landscapes, which extend beyond the seawalls and banks into the intertidal mudflats. The Levels are therefore a uniquely rich archaeological and historical resource in Wales, and certainly of international importance and significance.

4.13 Man's greatest impact on the wetland landscape has been his determination and success in reclaiming the levels, which has been on-going at least since the Roman period. Although the area is crossed by natural drainage, principally the River Usk with its broad tidal estuary, the Rivers Rhymney and Ebbw, and the Goldcliff Pill, the greater part of the levels has been the subject of artificial drainage schemes, so that today the area is criss-crossed by drainage channels, known locally as reens. However, elements of older drainage networks are still incorporated into some of the artificial drainage networks inland of the sea walls,

12 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

whilst other elements have been abandoned, either at the time of reclamation or more recently. The abandoned drainage systems are represented by palaeochannels, some of which are clearly seen on aerial photographs.

4.14 The present derived landscape thus comprises the following features: major reens resulting from natural watercourses; major reens which are wholly artificial; inland abandoned sea banks whose origins are obscure; sea walls probably originating in the 16th century; gouts where reens meet and coffer gouts where they cross; pills where the major reens discharge either into tidal channels or into the estuary itself; the bridges across the reens and the roadways built upon embankments; and not least the distinctive and characteristic field patterns belonging to different phases of enclosure.

4.15 In relation to the buried, archaeological landscape, Mesolithic remains have been discovered at Goldcliff, stratified in an estuarine clay underlying a sequence of peat deposits. Additionally, late Mesolithic human footprints, impressed into the lower Wentlooge Formation have been found at Uskmouth. Again, they were preserved in estuarine clay beneath a deposit of clay. It is reasonable to suppose that other important evidence of Mesolithic activity will be found preserved further inland, and perhaps most particularly at the interface between the levels and solid geology to the north.

4.16 Bronze Age activity has been recorded at various sites on desiccated raised peat beds, such as at Chapel Tump. More recently, outside the area described here, at Caldicot Castle, there is detailed evidence of palaeochannels, pile structures, a boat strake and a considerable amount of cultural material. Iron Age evidence has been discovered in the intertidal zone at Goldcliff with rectangular timber buildings, trackways and fish traps on a shelf of fen peat. Also, outside, but near the area, at Barland's Farm, Wilcrick, Roman stone and timber structures and the remains of a late 3rd century Romano-British boat have been found, alongside a buried tidal creek, emphasizing the remarkable state of preservation of archaeological material in the levels.

4.17 The Middle Ages are represented by a large number of Anglo-Norman sites including castles, moated sites, churches, mills, manor houses and court houses. There is evidence of continuity in the forms of land use between the medieval and post-medieval periods. The area saw increasing enclosure of the fields although, as late as 1830, considerable areas remained common. Whilst much of the basic network of reens had been established before this period, it continued to be developed and modified, particularly as the land became enclosed.

4.18 Over recent years, a range of spectacular archaeological sites have been excavated and, since 1987, a series of Sites of Special Scientific Interest have been notified in the Levels. The present landscape represents the latest archaeological period and provides the diverse ecological niches on which the nature conservation interests depend (see web references: GGAT (1) 2019).

13 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC)

4.19 The site is adjacent to Eastern St Brides Character Area (HLCA015) of the Gwent Levels Registered Landscape. This is described as a ‘Diverse landscape: early settlement focus (nr St. Brides Church), irregular field pattern of small fields and sinuous roads with remnants of roadside waste, dispersed settlement, seawall including demolished wall, drainage features include fen-banks, surface ridging (mainly grips, but also rare “ridge and furrow”)’.

4.20 This landscape occupies higher coastal land at the eastern end of Wentlooge. It merges with HLCA 16 to the west (Western St Brides), but the lines of former fen-banks divide it from HLCA 21 to the north (Maerdy). Tredegar Park (now the Duffryn Estate) was created in the northern part of this character area.

4.21 This is a very diverse landscape, similar to HLCA 1 (Nash/Goldcliff). To the south of St. Brides church, an oval area defined in the field-boundary pattern probably marks the earliest settlement focus. Elsewhere, the fields are small and irregular and the roads sinuous, formerly with abundant roadside waste (indicated by long narrow fields beside the roads). The settlement pattern is largely dispersed.

4.22 A relict sea wall that once ran along Wharf Reen has been demolished, though slight traces of a ramp can be seen in places. The lines of sinuous fen-banks mark the limit of this enclosed/drained landscape and the former open moors in the lower-lying back-fens. Very fine examples of surface ridging; mainly grips but includes some ‘ridge and furrow’ that is otherwise very rare in Wentlooge.

4.23 Parts of this landscape have a relatively wooded feel, with numerous mature trees in the hedges. Other hedges are typically scrubby.

4.24 The integrity and coherence of the area are high. This is an area of landscape typical of the higher coastal lands throughout the Levels. The early settlement site at St Brides, lines of former fen-banks, and 18th century reclamation of St Brides Wharf, are components of a complex and diverse landscape, which has a high group value. There are some fine areas of surface ridging, and traces of former roadside waste (GGAT (2) 2019).

4.25 There are 29 assets features recorded by the GGAT HER intersect with the site and four assets recorded by the National Museum Record (NMR), combined they total 31 sites. These comprise mainly water supply and drainage features, although there are some industrial and domestic features also. These are described below.

Archaeological and Historical Context

4.26 The proposed development is located within the industrial zone to the south of the city of Newport. As described below, this area was developed during the 19th century and before that date it formed part of the Gwent Levels.

14 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

4.27 There has been human exploitation of the Gwent Levels since later prehistoric times, with systematic attempts at land claim through sea defence and drainage beginning in the Roman period. The periodic inundation of the sea has since covered much of the evidence for human activity with thick layers of alluvium.

4.28 The archaeological potential of the Levels has been recognised since the 19th century, when discoveries such as the Alexandra Dock Boat (see below) were made and excellent conditions for the preservation of organic material were noted. Work in recent decades has greatly increased knowledge of the archaeological resource of the Levels across all periods from the prehistoric onwards. The quality and temporal diversity of the archaeological resource of the Levels has led to their inclusion in The Register of Landscapes of Outstanding Historic Interest in Wales (Cadw, CCW and ICOMOS UK, 1998).

Prehistoric (c. 1,000,000 BC – AD 43)

4.29 Little is known about the Newport district during the Prehistoric period. The earliest indications of human activity in the region date to the Mesolithic (c. 10,000 – 4,400 BC), when hunter-gatherers were exploiting coastal resources along the margins of the Severn estuary. Human footprints preserved in the alluvial mud of the Caldicot Level provide an extremely rare illustration of activity during this period, which is otherwise poorly represented within the archaeological record. One set of such footprints has been found at Uskmouth, dated by overlying peat deposits to no later than c. 6250 BC (GGAT04885g).

4.30 The early prehistoric land surface is now deeply buried, but it still survives and appears to have been encountered during the excavations for the Alexandra Dock: it is described how, 13.5m below the surface, ‘a number of oak trees, with abundance of hazel nuts, were found, apparently portions of an oak forest growing amid a thicket of hazel bushes’ (Morgan 1882).

4.31 There is a little evidence from the Neolithic period (4,400 – 2,300 BC), and of particular relevance to the present assessment are discoveries made during the creation of the New Dock in 1910-11. These comprised a human cranium associated with animal bones, found within a gravel deposit at a depth of 12.7m below the modern surface. Recent analysis has shown the faunal remains to be of late Neolithic age (OS Record Card, 1957, ST 38 SW 1; GGAT00263g). The find site is 550m to the south of the proposed development.

4.32 The Bronze Age (2,300 – 800 BC) is equally poorly represented in the archaeological record of Newport. An inhumation burial of this period was found at the confluence of the Usk and Ebbw rivers (site not included in the HER) and two stone axes have also been discovered in the Newport area (Hamilton, 2004). These are isolated finds, however, and Bronze Age lithic groups are rather more common further up the River Usk: much larger concentrations of material are to be found on the Wye (Harrison, 2004).

4.33 No sites of Iron Age date (800 BC – AD 43) have been discovered within the precincts of the modern city. However, fortified centres, as at Tredegar and Lodge Hill Camp, Caerleon, demonstrate the strategic importance of the River Usk (Children & Nash, 1996, 114).

15 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

4.34 In terms of the 1km Study Area, there are no records of activity within the 1km Study Area that date to the Mesolithic period or earlier. There is one known record of activity within the 1km Study Area which dates to the Iron Age: Maindy Hill Camp (GGAT08950g). This was recorded in the early 20th century as a circular enclosure, univallate but ditchless. This is in the same location as Castell Glas Castle Mound (MM190) and may predate the medieval monument.

Roman (AD 43 – 410)

4.35 The main Roman occupation sites in Gwent lay elsewhere than Newport. A fortress was established at Usk during the initial decades of the conquest of south-east Wales (Manning, 1981; 1989). Activity here was scaled down in favour of a new legionary base at Caerleon (Isca), beginning in the AD 70s: Caerleon remained the principal military site in the region throughout the Roman period.

4.36 The Gwent Levels began to be extensively exploited during this period, and it is evident that the Romans undertook a systematic programme of drainage and land-claim in this area. Archaeological work at the Gwent Nature Reserve, Nash Waste Water Treatment Works and on the Wentloog Level has identified a Roman land horizon some 1m below the present ground surface. These discoveries attest to a principally agricultural landscape, but there is also some evidence that indicates accompanying settlement. Discoveries at the Gwent Europark near Magor have been particularly significant, the prime find being a Roman boat, alongside more general evidence for maritime exploitation of the creeks and reens as transportation corridors.

4.37 Parts of the present field system in the central Wentloog Levels are thought to have their origins in the Roman period. However, in other parts the failure of flood defences in early medieval times led to renewed inundation by the sea and the burial of this ancient landscape (Rippon, 1996).

4.38 Newport itself does not appear to have been the focus of significant activity, although there must have been very significant traffic passing along the Usk to and from the wharves at Caerleon. Within Newport itself, Roman material recovered includes two coins (GGAT00163g), cremations (GGAT00171g) and an inscribed stone (GGAT02836g). A mosaic pavement associated with dressed stone, tile and plaster, indicative of a high- status site such as a villa, is also reported near Newport (Rescue 2001, 6).

4.39 There are no records of Roman activity within the 1km study Area.

Medieval (AD 410 – 1485)

4.40 By the middle of the first millennium Newport had replaced Caerleon as the principal port on the River Usk and appears to have been an important trading site for maritime traffic (Davies, 1982, 55-8). The first major settlement in the Newport area is said to have been established by St Gwynllwg in the 6th century (Griffiths, 1978, 189). Tradition states that he founded a sanctuary at the top of Stow Hill: it is this site that later developed into the medieval parish church of St Woolos and the nucleus of the early town.

16 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

4.41 The site at Stow continued as the nucleus of settlement after the Norman Conquest, gaining borough status in the early decades of the 12th century. The first mention of Newport itself, as Novus burgus or ‘new town’, appears in a charter of AD 1132 (Griffiths, 1978, 189). During the early 12th century the focus of the settlement shifted towards the north-east. The motte at Stow was abandoned, and a new fortification built on the river at the site of the present castle (GGAT00192; SAM MM009). The new fortification commanded and where necessary restricted access to the upper reaches of the Usk. Downstream from the castle new settlement flourished, with much commerce facilitated by a natural inlet known as the ‘Town Pill’ (PRN 05087g). The town itself comprised an elongated, straggling settlement, extending for a distance of some c. 900m from St Woolos’ church at Stow (now the cathedral), north-east to the castle (Griffiths, 1978; Soulsby, 1983).

4.42 A documentary source describes English merchants frequenting the mouth of the Usk for trade during the 11th century (Rippon, 1996, 37). Probable archaeological evidence for this activity came to light in 1878 during the construction of the Alexandra Dock. Workmen excavating a new timber float discovered the remains of a ship (GGAT00160g) at about 3.65m (12ft) below the ground surface. The ship was held in a vertical position by wooden stakes, leading to the assumption that it had been used as some kind of structure, perhaps a revetment for a landing place.

4.43 Shortly after its discovery the ship was examined by the dockmaster and a shipwright: their descriptions provide the only detailed information about the craft. It was clinker-built and suggested to have been approximately 21m long and 4.5 – 6m across the beam. The shipwright thought the timber to be ‘Dantzic Oak’ (quercus petraea), indicating an origin in the Baltic. Octavius Morgan, reporting the discovery to the Archaeological Institute took this information still further, associating the ship with ‘Danish or Northern’ invaders from the Baltic and linking it to historical records for attacks during the late 10th century (Morgan 1882).

4.44 More recent research, focussing on the one surviving plank from the wreck, has significantly modified this view. A radiocarbon age of AD 950 +/- 80 years has been obtained from the timber, but this date may be considerably too early. The outer rings of the tree have not survived, and the date relates to heartwood: the felling date for the tree could have been many years later. Morgan’s association of the wreck with the Viking era, whilst not impossible, certainly seems unlikely. Moreover, a Baltic origin is also far from certain. Clinker-building was the principal north-west European ship-building technique for planked craft until the end of the medieval period, and the identification of the timber as Baltic Oak is questionable (Hutchinson, 1984).

4.45 Despite these academic questions, the wreck was certainly a highly significant archaeological find. Its survival – along with that of the medieval ship discovered in the city centre at Moderator Wharf – indicates that conditions exist on the lower Usk and Ebbw that are amenable to the preservation of ancient timber remains.

4.46 The precise location of the wreck was, unfortunately, not recorded. The timber float was an extensive feature adjacent to the River Ebbw: Kelly’s Directory for Monmouthshire (1901)

17 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

described it as ‘occupying 10 acres with an average depth of water of 8 feet’. It is shown on the Ordnance Survey map of 1884 (and on subsequently surveys up to its infilling in the 1980s): it was 850m long north-south and 90m east-west. The wreck may have lain anywhere within this area, and whilst its easting can be tied down with reasonable precision, its northing belongs anywhere within an 850m corridor. The HER record takes a central point within the timber float (GGAT00160g) but the most southerly edge of the pond was 250m from the site being assessed within this report.

4.47 Earthworks at Castell Glas, Maes Glas, Newport (MM190), were identified and scheduled in 2017. A rectangular earth mound about 1.5m high and about 35 x 25m, with very slight traces of a surrounding ditch, has been identified as a defensive structure. This site has been landscaped and truncated and now stands in a children's play park. It is recorded as being in the same location as Maindy Hill Camp (GGAT08950g), which may have been a precursor to the medieval mound.

4.48 Two medieval mills are located within the 1km Study Area. A 14th century watermill (Millham Watermill; GGAT00164g) was located 470m north of the site and a mill (GGAT00173g) located 500m to the west. The condition of both of these sites is unknown, and they are located in areas concealed from view of the site by trees and topography.

4.49 Two sites consisting of earthworks are within the 1km Study Area. A D-shaped enclosure (GGAT10912g) and a complex of earthworks (GGAT10911g) were identified by Wessex Archaeology during a desk-based assessment using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging). The D-shaped enclosure was located 138m west of the southern end of the site. The complex of earthworks was located 584m south of the site. The D-shaped feature and seemed to be connected to the drainage ditches by spurs. It is likely to be medieval and contemporary with the field due to the position in the corner of the field. LiDAR did not reveal any features extending into the site boundary, which would suggest that this is an isolated feature.

Post-Medieval and Modern (AD 1485 – present)

4.50 The port of Newport continued in use throughout later medieval and post-medieval times (Lewis 1927), although it may have been of lesser importance than other Welsh maritime towns such as Chepstow, Cardiff and Swansea.

4.51 It was during the Industrial Revolution that Newport experienced its heyday and its greatest period of development. The town grew rapidly during the industrial period, from a population of 750 in 1791 to nearly 14,000 in 1841 (Griffiths, 1978, 217). This growth was facilitated by the building of the Monmouthshire Canal in the last decade of the 18th century, which linked the town with the iron-producing areas between Pontypool and Abergavenny. It received its Act of Parliament in 1792 and was opened to Pontnewynydd in 1796 and to Crumlin in 1799. Initially the canal at Newport terminated to the north of Town Pill (at Cefn Wharf) but was extended southwards into the Friars Field area in 1799 and to Pillgwenlly in 1808.

18 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

4.52 Shortly after the completion of the canal, tramways were built to provide access to the valleys to the west, and the fully-fledged railway network was completed by 1850. Coal, timber and iron flowed from the port, which expanded rapidly to meet the increase in trade. The first floating dock was built at Pwllwenlly in 1842, with further facilities at Alexandra Dock and South Dock added in 1875 and 1893 respectively. The latter dock opened directly onto the Bristol Channel and possessed at the time the largest sea lock entrance in the world (Knight, 1998, 106).

4.53 The importance of industry in and around Newport is not reflected within the 1km Study Area; the 16 Post-medieval features present are mostly agricultural, consisting of drainage ditches, sluices, field boundaries, a footbridge, weir, railway cutting and mound, all of low value and significance.

Previous Archaeological Investigations

4.54 The HER contains records for 32 previous investigations (or ‘events’) within the 1km Study Area. The events consist of ten desk-based assessments, eight research projects, five watching briefs, two management landscape plans, three evaluations, one environmental statement, and three field visits.

4.55 Of all these events, only one watching brief revealed archaeological finds. In 2016, the Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd was commissioned by Barratt South Wales to undertake an archaeological watching brief for a housing development at St Johns Park Development to the north of Morgan’s Way in Dyffryn, 900m south-west of the site. Finds were recovered in small quantities of brick, slate and tile fragments, 19th century or later white earthenware, a few sherds of red earthenware, the rim of a heavy pan dating to 1600-1750 and a single sherd of medieval pottery.

Site Walkover

4.56 The site walkover was undertaken on the 15 October 2019 to assess the current ground conditions and topography within it, as well as to confirm the continuing survival of any known archaeological remains, and to identify any hitherto unknown remains of significance. This section details observations made regarding the sites archaeology and setting. Observations regarding the settings of designated heritage assets are discussed in the settings assessment section above.

4.57 The land within the site boundary is currently pasture, however it was clear from the topography that the site consists entirely of made ground, identified by the man-made, sharply sloping, western area of the site, to the natural agricultural level approximately 1m below to the west. Aerial photographs show the land being used as landfill in the 1980s (Image EDP 14).

4.58 The view from the site to the Registered Landscape is mainly concealed by a large spoil tip to the south of the site on the opposite side of the Ebbw River (Image EDP 2). The

19 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Registered Landscape is partially visible to the west and south-west however (Image EDP 5 and 6), and the site is visible from the Registered Landscape from a bridge on a private trackway 450m south-west of the site (Image EDP 7). It was not possible to get access to the bridge; the entrance to the trackway was visited, which is just within the western boundary of the Registered Landscape. From there the site was blocked from view by the train track and spoil tip located to the south of the site (Image EDP 13). The site could not be seen from the Ebbw River on top of the flood defence once around the river bend to the south, and the flood defence and raised ground surrounding the Tredegar Pill (GGAT08892g) (Image EDP 9). It is possible that the site could be seen from within the Registered Landscapes fields to the west and south-west of the site close to its proximity, although it was not possible to view the site from these fields. However, it has been planned for hedgerows to be planted to screen this area of the site from the registered landscape.

4.59 The scheduled monument (MM190) was visited to assess whether the development was visible from it, and whether that would have a change its setting and an effect to its significance. The monument is located within a housing estate and a children’s playground to the north, and the A48 to the south which is screened by a hedgerow and trees. The monuments setting has already been greatly affected by these developments, which resulted in the monument not being visible to or from the site, therefore there will be no further change to the monuments setting by the solar development (Image EDP 11).

4.60 Mill (GGAT00173) was investigated 470m to the west of the site. There was no evidence above ground of a medieval mill. There was a section of reen visible which was well established and fast flowing. This is seen on the First Edition OS Map (1883), but not on the Tithe Map (1844). The site was not visible from the location of the mill due to a dense hedgerow and trees lining the opposite side of the road looking east towards the site (Image EDP 12).

Cartographic Sources

4.61 Detailed map evidence of reasonable quality exists for the town of Newport from the middle of the 18th century. However, these early surveys focus on the urban area and do not extend far enough south to take in the site.

Tithe Map of Bassaleg (1844)

4.62 The 1844 Tithe Map of Basseleg shows the site as identical to the First Edition Ordnance Survey (OS) Map of 1884. A trackway skirted the western boundary of the site, which is now delineated by a line of electricity pylons.

4.63 The site was noted as being owned by Sir Charles Morgan Baronet and occupied by Mapson Thomas Smith. It was listed in the Apportionment (1841) as being part of Maes Glas and was named ‘The Five Acres’. The Tithe Map and Apportionment offers no further information on potential for archaeology at the site.

20 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Ordnance Survey Maps

4.64 The First Edition OS Map of 1884 (Plan EDP 3), the Second Edition OS Map of 1901, the Third Edition OS Map (1921) and the Fourth Edition OS Map (1937) show no change within the site since the 1844 Tithe Map of Basseleg.

4.65 The OS Plan of 1956-69 (Plan EDP 4) shows the site and its surrounding environs as marshland. By this time, the reen passing through the site was labelled as a drain. A number of manhole features were shown across the site, but no further change.

4.66 The most significant change to the study area occurred by 1971, when during the time of the Provisional Ordnance Survey (1969-71), the course of the River Ebbw had altered significantly as the result of human intervention. The oxbow bend ceased to exist, the river taking a more direct course northwards from its confluence with the Usk. The river now ran some 200m to the west of its former position. The development site had become reclaimed marginal ground and was crossed in its eastern part by a railway branch leading to the South Dock. This OS Plan is only partially available and for that reason has not been reproduced within this report.

4.67 The maps dated between 1956 and 1967 record increased railway infrastructure around the site, although the central and northern parts remained as open ground. The map dated 1968-1972 shows the removal of the railway lines, leaving only remnant embankments. There is no recorded information between 1972 and 1992. The maps dated 1992 onwards show the site as it is seen today.

Aerial photographs

4.68 A total of 22 aerial photographs covering the site and its immediate environs were identified within the collections maintained by the Central Register of Aerial Photography for Wales (CRAPW) at Cardiff. The available images span the period from 13 May 1946 to 12 October 2009.

4.69 The photographs provide a record of change within the site, matching the description of the site provided within the cartographic section of this report. There was no change to field boundaries within or immediately around the site from the tithe map (1844) up to this 1979. The site contained land drains seen in the earliest aerial photograph (1946) up to 1979. Land drains can be seen to the south of the site within the agricultural landscape of the Gwent Levels. To the south-west of the site, medieval and post-medieval field enclosures still exist.

4.70 The route of the Ebbw River to the north of the site was altered, aligning it north-south, in 1971. By 1998 to the south of the site, the river was also altered to a more direct north-south alignment. This has no effect or significance on the potential for archaeology within the site.

21 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

4.71 In 1981, the aerial photograph (ref: ADAS Infra-Red 8103 55 12, Image EDP 14) appears to show material built up on the site, which extends to the west and north of the site. The depth of the made ground has not been made available. The site appears to be used as landfill until the 1985 aerial photograph shows grass reclaiming the site. By 1988 the site appears as it does today, including fences for field boundaries.

4.72 The aerial photographs do not identify any evidence for any additional previously unrecorded archaeological remains or heritage assets within the site.

A Summary of Archaeological Potential

4.73 The assessment of the site’s archaeological potential is based on a consideration of the sources outlined above. In summary, the following conclusions have been made:

• The site is adjacent to the north and east of the Gwent Levels Historic Landscape (HLW(Gt)2), Eastern St Brides Character Area (HLCA015);

• There is a lack of archaeological investigation within the site as the has remained unchanged from the date of the tithe map (1844) up to it becoming a spoil tip in the early 1980s. Therefore, the archaeological resource of the site is poorly understood;

• There is one prehistoric site (Maindy Hill Camp; GGAT00895g) which is at the same location as, but predates, the Scheduled Monument (MM190). Any archaeology underlying the made ground on the site will not be affected as excavations will not reach the depth of archaeological deposits beneath the made ground;

• The spoil tip is unlikely to have had any impact on any archaeological remains within the footprint of the site as there is no evidence of excavation. Therefore, there should be no impact on the archaeology by the solar development; and

• Overall, the assessment has not identified any specific archaeological potential within the site, and the sites potential to contain significant remains is considered to be low.

22 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Section 5 Heritage Assessment

Introduction

5.1 In accordance with PPW 2018, this section assesses impacts on heritage assets from the proposed development. There are no historic assets within the site, and so impacts consist of indirect effect on the significance of historic assets through changes within their settings.

5.2 In terms of indirect effects, this section addresses stage three of the four step approach to setting assessment described in the Cadw Settings Assessment guidance (Cadw, 2017).

Physical effects on archaeology

5.3 The construction of a substation in the northern part of the site will sit on a 200mm concrete plinth and will not require deep excavation. Similarly, the solar panels will be erected on concrete platforms. Neither of these structures will require excavation to a depth below the made ground. Trenches for services will be excavated within the capped layer, to a depth of 0.7m-1m blg (it is estimated that the made ground has a depth of 1m-1.blg). A phase 1 contamination report was conducted in January 2019 (Integral Geotechnique, 2019), although depths of the made ground were not provided. A phase 2 contamination survey (forthcoming) will provide more information regarding the depth of the made ground.

5.4 No baseline data for the site and depth is limited. On that basis the effect of the development on archaeology is deemed unlikely.

Visual Impacts

5.5 As the site stands, there will be a visual impact on the Registered Historic Landscape to the immediate south and immediate west of the site, and from the location of the bridge (Image EDP 7), where the southern and westernmost edges of the site are visible.

5.6 The baseline identified four assets within the locality of the development. However, all have been scoped out of the assessment on the following basis:

• Castell Glas Castle Mound (MM190). No visibility between the site and this heritage asset;

• Mills (GGAT00164g and GGAT00173g): No visibility between the site and these heritage assets; and

• D-shaped enclosure (GGAT10912g): This enclosure itself is not upstanding and cannot be seen, but its location is visible from the site.

23 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

5.7 No visual impacts on heritage assets are predicted.

Registered landscape

5.8 An ASIDOHL has been undertaken for the proposed development which is included as Appendix EDP 2. The outcomes of the ASIDOHL are as follows:

• Stage 1: the ASIDOHL applies to the Gwent Levels and HLCA015 only;

• Stage 2: The development lies outside the boundaries of the Historic Landscape and no physical impacts will occur;

• Stage 3: Very minor visual change will occur within a small northerly part of HLCA015. This is not considered significant; and

• Stage 4: HLCA015 has a high value character area.

5.9 The stage 5 conclusion reads as follow:

‘The proposed development will have no direct physical impacts on HLCA015. There will also be no indirect physical effects. The effects of the proposed development on the Eastern St Brides HLCA015 are purely in visual terms and apply only to the northernmost portion of the character area. Here the change in land-use adjacent to the HLCA will be perceptible.

In terms of indirect (visual) effects, within the Eastern St Brides Character Area the proposed development will only appear as a minor element in the landscape and will not introduce significant change. There will be views of the development from the northernmost section of the HLCA but, views will mostly be glimpsed and/or in conjunction with the current landfill site and associated buildings on the opposite side of the river. The Stage 5 scoring produced overall Slight impact for the Eastern St Brides HLCA015, a result is generated by a very minor change in views, combined with the HLCA’s high value. The key characteristics of the historic landscape as a whole, and its value, will be unaffected’.

24 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Section 6 Conclusions

6.1 The development proposals have been assessed against the heritage baseline. There are no physical effects on known sites, and the visual changes introduced to the historic environment are negligible. In terms of the known archaeological resource, it is considered that the effect of the development on the cultural heritage resource is not significant in terms of the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations.

6.2 The Usk and Ebbw River corridors are known to preserve archaeological remains, often deeply buried under deposits of alluvium. Many of these features are of only local significance, but on occasion there have been discoveries of international value. Mitigation measures will therefore be put in place before and during construction to ensure the identification and preservation (whether in situ or by record) of any buried archaeological remains.

Table EDP 1: Summary of predicted residual effects. Residual Potential impacts Phase Significance Mitigation effect Physical effect on Construction None N/A N/A statutorily protected monuments (SAMs) and Listed Buildings. Physical effect on Construction None N/A N/A known, non-statutory archaeological sites and features. Physical effect on Construction None N/A N/A unknown non-statutory archaeological sites and features. Visual effects on SAMs, Operation None N/A N/A Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas. Visual effects on the Operation Negligible Hedgerow plantation Negligible Gwent Levels historic has been proposed landscape. by the client to screen the site

25 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

This page has been left blank intentionally

26 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Section 7 References

Cadw, 2007, Guide to Good Practice on Using the Register of Landscapes of Historic Interest in Wales in the Planning and Development Process

Cadw, 2011 Conservation Principles, Policies and Guidance for the Sustainable management of the Historic Environment in Wales

Cadw, 2017a Setting of Historic Assets in Wales

Cadw, 2017b Heritage Impact Assessment in Wales

Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) 2014 Standard and Guidance for Historic Environment Desk-based Assessment (Reading)

Children, G, & Nash, G, 1996, Prehistoric sites of Monmouthshire, Cromwell Press: Melksham.

Davies, W, 1982, Wales in the Early Middle Ages, Leicester University Press.Griffiths, RA, 1978, Boroughs of Medieval Wales, University of Wales Press: Cardiff.

Hamilton, MA, 2004, ‘The Bronze Age’, in Aldhouse-Green, M & Howell, R (eds.), The Gwent County History. Volume 1: Gwent in Prehistory and Early History, University of Wales Press: Cardiff, 84- 110.

HMSO, 1979, Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979

Howell, JK & Dunning, R, 2004, Urban Waterfronts in south-east Wales: Phase 1, GGAT Report No. 2004/075.

Hutchinson, G, 1984, ‘A plank fragment from a boat find from the River Usk at Newport’, International Journal of Nautical Archaeology and Underwater Exploration 13.1, 27-32.

Integral Geotechnique, 2019, Proposed Solar PV Generator, Areas 1, 2 and 3, Ebbw West Landfill, Newport, Document Ref: 12356/JJ/19/SI

Kelly’s Directory for Monmouthshire and South Wales (1901)

Knight, CV. 1998, Pillgwelly: Newport. Cromwell Press: Newport.

Lewis, EA. 1927. The Welsh port books (1550-1603), Cymmrodorion Record Series No. 12.

Manning, WH, 1981, Report on the excavations at Usk, 1965-1976: The Fortress excavations 1968-1971, Cardiff.

27 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Morgan, O, 1878, ‘The Ancient Danish Vessel, found near the mouth of the River Usk’, Arch Journal XXXV, 403-5

Morgan, O. 1882. ‘Ancient Danish vessel discovered at the mouth of the Usk’, Monmouthshire and Caerleon Antiquarian Association, Newport, 23-6.

Rescue 2001, The newspaper of the British Archaeological Trust, 85, 6.

Rippon, S, 1996, The Gwent Levels: the evolution of a wetland landscape, CBA Research Report No. 105.

Rippon, S. 1997 The Severn Estuary: Landscape Evolution and Wetland Reclamation, Leicester University Press

Soulsby, I, 1983, The towns of Medieval Wales, Phillimore: London.

Welsh Government 2018, Planning Policy Wales Edition Ten Cardiff

Welsh Government 2017, Technical Advice Note 24 (TAN 24) The Historic Environment

Websites

British Geological Society (2019) – https://www.bgs.ac.uk/discoveringGeology/geologyOfBritain/viewer.htmlc

Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd (1) (2019) – http://www.ggat.org.uk/cadw/historic_landscape/Gwent%20Levels/English/GL_Main.htm

Glamorgan Gwent Archaeological Trust Ltd (2) (2019) – http://www.ggat.org.uk/cadw/historic_landscape/Gwent%20Levels/English/GL_15.htm

Cartographic Sources

Plan of the Town and Borough of Newport, about the year 1750

Plan of Newport c. 1750

Newport 1800, from Coxe’s Historical Tour of Monmouthshire

1811 Map by Charles Budgen

Plan of Newport from actual survey by John Wood, 1836

Tithe Map, Bassaleg (1844)

28 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Ordnance Survey First Edition 1:2500 (1884)

Ordnance Survey Second Edition 1:2500 (1901)

Ordnance Survey Third Edition 1:2500 (1921)

Ordnance Survey Fourth Edition 1:2500 (1937)

Ordnance Survey Plan, 1:2500 (1956-1969)

Ordnance Survey Plan (Partial), 1:2500 (1972)

29 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

This page has been left blank intentionally

30 Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Images

Image EDP 1: Views to the south from the northern boundary of the development area across the site.

Image EDP 2: View from the northern boundary of the site looking south-southeast. A spoil tip can be seen across the Ebbw River to the south.

Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Image EDP 3: View from the northern boundary of the site looking west. A spoil tip on the other side of the Ebbw River prohibits views from the west to the site.

Image EDP 4: View from the northern boundary of the site looking north.

Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Image EDP 5: View from the northern boundary of the site looking south-west towards HLCA015.

Image EDP 6: View from the southern boundary of the site looking south-west towards the Ebbw River and HLCA015.

Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Image EDP 7: View from the southern boundary of the site looking west towards the private bridge which is the only track where you can view the site can be obtained.

Image EDP 8: View from the southern boundary of the site looking north across the site.

Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Image EDP 9: View north from 400m south of the site on top of the flood embankment within HLCA015. The site which was not visible.

Image EDP 10: View from 400m south of the site at the base of the flood embankment within HLCA015. Access to the fields within HLCA was not possible but it was clear that there is no visibility to the site from the HLCA because of the flood defences.

Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Image EDP 11: View from MM190 looking south towards the site which was not visible due to the trees.

Image EDP 12: View from the site of Mill (GGAT00173) looking east towards the site, which is obscured by a hedge and trees.

Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Image EDP 13: View from the entrance of a trackway located 460m south-west of the site, within HLCA015. The view of the site was obscured by the railway tracks and trees, although the pylons within the site can be seen in the background.

Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Image EDP 14: Aerial photograph dated 1981, reference: ADAS Infra-Red 8103 55 12. This is the first image in the list of aerial photographs showing the site location and area to the north used as a landfill site

Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Appendix EDP 1 Land at Ebbw West – Solar Development ASIDOHL Assessment

Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

This page has been left blank intentionally

Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

Plans

Plan EDP 1 Proposed Site Plan Solerac, Drawing No. EDD-DWG002.1, 07/03/2019 (edp5771_d001a 19 November 2020 AG/RS)

Plan EDP 2 Historic Assets in the Site and 1km Radius Study Area (edp5771_d002 22 November 2019 AG/CB)

Plan EDP 3 First Edition OS Map 1884 1:2500 (edp5771_d003 22 November 2019 AG/CB)

Plan EDP 4 OS Plan 1956-1969 1:2500 (edp5771_d004 22 November 2019 AG/CB)

Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development Desk-Based Assessment edp5771_r001a

This page has been left blank intentionally

48 Charlotte Street London, W1T 2NS Site Tel:Boundary 0203 7010381 Email: [email protected] Website: www.SOLRAC.co.uk

DESIGN KEY

Site Boundary Gate

Track

09

75 HQWUDQFH /9 7UHQFK Transformer

HV Cable

Substation

CCTV

Compound

Battery

PROJECT DETAILS EbbW Newport Unnamed Road, Newport NP20 2WD

TOTAL POWER: 2,352.96 kWp (DC) No. of MODULES: 8,256 MODULE POWER: 285Wp INVERTERS: 33x60kVA@25C Total 1,980kW (AC)

Gates: 1

client No. of CCTV: 14 NewportNOTES: City Council

project title Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development drawing title Proposed SitePROJECT: Plan (Solerac, Drawing Number.DESCRIPTION: EBB – DWG002.1, (29/10/2020) date DRAWING19 No. NOVEMBER 2020 drawn by AG drawing numberDRAWNedp5771_d001a by: checked RS scale 1:1,000 @ A1 QA RB CHECKED by: APPROVED by: Date: ISSUE: 0 500m SCALE: Registered office: 01285 740427 - www.edp-uk.co.uk - [email protected] © The Environmental Dimension Partnership Ltd. © Crown copyright and database rights 2019 Ordnance Survey 0100031673. Imagery © 2020 Getmapping plc, Map data © 2020 Google United Kingdom

Approximate Site Boundary

client Newport City Council

project title Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development drawing title Plan EDP 3: First Edition OS Map 1884 1:2500

date 22 NOVEMBER 2019 drawn by AG drawing number edp5771_d003 checked CB scale 1:2500 @ A3 QA CR

Registered office: 01285 740427 - www.edp-uk.co.uk - [email protected] © The Environmental Dimension Partnership Ltd. Approximate Site Boundary

client Newport City Council

project title Land at Ebbw West, Newport – Solar Development drawing title Plan EDP 4: OS Plan 1956-1969 1:2500

Landmark Historical Map date 22 NOVEMBER 2019 drawn by AG Mapping:drawing number Epochedp5771_d003 5 checked CB Publishedscale Date(s):1:2500 1956-1969 @ A3 QA CR Originally plotted at: 1:2,500

Registered office: 01285 740427 - www.edp-uk.co.uk - [email protected] © The Environmental Dimension Partnership Ltd. CARDIFF 02921 671900

CHELTENHAM 01242 903110

CIRENCESTER 01285 740427

SHREWSBURY 01939 211190 [email protected] www.edp-uk.co.uk

The Environmental Dimension Partnership Ltd. Registered as a Limited Company in England and Wales. Company No. 09102431. Registered Office: Tithe Barn, Barnsley Park Estate, Barnsley, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 5EG