Westwood, Land Adjoining Junction 27 on M5, Mid Devon
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WESTWOOD, LAND ADJOINING JUNCTION 27 ON M5, MID DEVON ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK BASED ASSESSMENT Prepared for GL HEARN Mills Whipp Projects Ltd., 40, Bowling Green Lane, London EC1R 0NE 020 7415 7044 [email protected] October 2014 WESTWOOD, LAND ADJOINING JUNCTION 27 ON M5 ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK BASED ASSESSMENT Contents 1. Introduction & site description 2. Report Specification 3. Planning Background 4. Archaeological & Historical Background 5. List of Heritage Assets 6. Landscape Character Assessment 7. Archaeological Assessment 8. Impact Assessment 9. Conclusions Appendix 1 Archaeological Gazetteer Appendix 2 Sources Consulted Figures Fig.1 Site Location Fig.2 Archaeological Background Fig.3 Saxton 1575 Fig.4 Donn 1765 Fig.5 Cary 1794 Fig.6 Ordnance Survey 1802 Fig.7 Ordnance Survey 1809 Fig.8 Ordnance Survey 1830 (Unions) Fig.9 Ordnance Survey 1850 (Parishes) Fig.10 Ordnance Survey 1890 Fig.11 Ordnance Survey 1906 Fig.12 Ordnance Survey 1945 (Landuse) Fig.13 Ordnance Survey 1962 Fig.14 Ordnance Survey 1970 Fig.15 Ordnance Survey 1993 Fig.16 Site Survey Plan 1. INTRODUCTION & SITE DESCRIPTION 1.1 Mills Whipp Projects has been commissioned by GL Hearn to prepare a Desk Based Assessment of archaeology for the Westwood site on the eastern side of Junction 27 of the M5 (Figs.1, 2 & 17). 1.2 The site is centred on National Grid Reference ST 0510 1382 and is approximately 90 ha (222 acres) in area. It lies immediately to the east of the Sampford Peverell Junction 27 of the M5. Its northern side lies adjacent to Higher Houndaller Farmhouse while the southern end is defined by Andrew’s Plantation, the lane leading to Mountstephen Farm and Mountstephen Cottages (Fig.16). Its western side lies adjacent to the M5 and its eastern side is defined by the A318. 1.3 In undertaking this work the following documents have been adhered to: Institute of Field Archaeologists - Code of Conduct Institute of Field Archaeologists, 2012 Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Desk-based Assessments English Heritage, 1991 - Management of Archaeological Projects 1.4 Guidance for the general content of the Desk Based Assessment has been taken from Standard and Guidance for Desk-Based Assessment (Institute for Archaeologists [IfA] 2012) and also the Practice Guide published by Communities and Local Government, English Heritage and DCMS – ‘PPS5 Planning for the Historic Environment: Historic Environment Planning Practice Guide – which remains valid despite the replacement of PPS5 with NPPF. 1.5 Westwood, the application site, is bisected from east to west by the A38, although the southern portion is approximately twice as large as the northern. The development scheme comprises a leisure destination on the southern side of the A38 and a commercial development on its northern side. At this stage of the design process no details have been fixed in terms of the layout as the emerging scheme is illustrative. Therefore it is not possible to produce a detailed impact assessment until a later date in the evolution of the project but given the scale of the site, there is likely to be sufficient scope to integrate suitable mitigation measures. 2. REPORT SPECIFICATION Report status 2.1 The assessment has been prepared to ascertain the archaeological potential of the subject site and is intended form part of the outline planning application documentation for the redevelopment of the site. An assessment of the settings of, and views from, designated heritage assets, as required by MDDC’s Policy DM27 paragraph e, is to be undertaken elsewhere. Origin and scope of the report: Mid Devon District Council’s Scoping Opinion) 2.2 Mills Whipp Projects has been commissioned by G.L. Hearn to prepare an archaeological desk based assessment of the subject site (Fig.1). The purpose of this report is to identify the archaeological implications of the proposed development. 2.3 During the preparation of the desk based assessment Devon County Council’s Historic Environment Record (HER) was consulted for an area of 2km radius (Fig. 2) centred on ST 0510 1382 with relevant data drawn from a wider area. Information from aerial photographs is also contained within the HER. Aerial photographs were further inspected at the Exeter County Council’s Historic Environment offices. The chief cartographic sources have been used and a selection of these is appended as illustrations. Landscape characterisations have been drawn from Devon County Council’s Historic Environment Service and English Heritage. The Desk Based Assessment of archaeology will also provide background information to supplement Written Scheme of Investigations (WSIs) for any future geophysical or intrusive investigations. Aims and Objectives 2.4 A desk based assessment as defined by the Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA, 2001) will: “determine, as far as is reasonably possible from existing records, the nature of the archaeological resource within a specified area. It will be undertaken using appropriate methods and practices which will satisfy the stated aims of the project, and which comply with the Code of Conduct, Code of Approved Practice for the Regulation of Contractual Arrangements in Field Archaeology, and other relevant Bylaws of the Institute of Field Archaeologists.” 2.5 A desk based assessment represents: “a programme of assessment within a specified area or site on land, inter-tidal zone or underwater. It consists of a collation of existing written, graphic, photographic and electronic information in order to identify the likely character, extent, quality and worth of the known or potential archaeological resource in a local, national or international context as appropriate.” “a programme of assessment of the known or potential archaeological resource within a specified area or site on land, inter-tidal zone or underwater. It consists of a collation of existing written, graphic, photographic and electronic information in order to identify the likely character, extent, quality and worth of the known or potential archaeological resource in a local, regional, national or international context as appropriate.” 2.6 The purpose of desk-based assessment is to: “gain information about the known or potential archaeological resource within a given area or site, (including its presence or absence, character and extent, date, integrity, state of preservation and relative quality of the potential archaeological resource) in order to make an assessment of its merit in context, leading to one or more of the following: the formulation of a strategy to ensure the recording, preservation or management of the resource the formulation of a strategy for further investigation, whether or not intrusive, where the character and value of the resource is not sufficiently defined to permit a mitigation strategy or other response to be devised the formulation of a proposal for further archaeological investigation within a programme of research.” 2.7 The submission of a desktop report to accompany a planning application conforms with the intent of paragraph 7 (under ‘The Role of Public Authorities and Planners’) of the Code of Good Practice established by the Cultural Heritage Committee of the Council of Europe (CHCE 2000), which states that before taking decisions affecting the archaeological heritage, planners should “obtain adequate information and advice, applying non-destructive methods of investigation wherever possible; and also with the intent of paragraph 1 (under ‘The Role of Architects and Developers’) which states that the purpose [of assessment] will be not only to establish if it is necessary to dig but also to build a picture of [the site’s] morphology and its potential.” Methodology 2.8 The assessment has been carried out in accordance with guidance from various bodies including the Institute of Field Archaeologists and the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers (see above). In summary the work has involved identifying the client’s objectives, identifying the sources available for consultation, assembling, consulting and examining these sources. 2.9 Survival of archaeological deposits on the subject site depends on previous land-use, so an assessment has been made of the destructive effect of the previous and present activity. 2.10 In order that the appropriate archaeological response can be identified, consideration has been given to the need for either further assessment and/or field evaluation work to identify and locate surviving deposits on the site. 3. Planning Background General 3.1 The proposed development of the site is subject to planning guidance and policies contained within the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This has influenced and guided the development of Mid Devon District Council’s Core Strategy and Local Plan. These recognise the importance of heritage assets. National Guidance: National Planning Policy Framework 3.2 In March 2012 the government published the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which replaces national policy relating to heritage and archaeology (Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment). It aims to provide a simpler and clearer policy framework for the Government’s planning policies which ‘must be taken into account in the preparation of local and neighbourhood plans’ (NPPF, 2012, 1). Its principal objective is to ‘contribute to the achievement of sustainable development’ and so there is a presumption in favour of such developments. This involves seeking ‘positive improvements in the quality of the built, natural and historic environment’ (ibid). 3.3 Within the planning system a set of 12 core land-use planning principles should underpin plan-making and decision-taking. That relating to the historic environment states that planning should: ‘conserve heritage assets in a manner appropriate to their significance, so that they can be enjoyed for their contribution to the quality of life of this and future generations’. 3.4 Section 12 of the NPPF ‘Conserving and enhancing the historic environment’ provides guidance for planning authorities, property owners and developers. In summary its key points are: Local Plans should set out to promote a positive strategy for the conservation and enjoyment of the historic environment.