Report Template
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
HeritageCollective Heritage Statement Land north of New Inn Farm, Tenby, Pembrokeshire On behalf of Constantine Wind Energy January 2015 Project Ref: 14/1671 Project Number: 14/1671 Authored by: Karl Hulka ACIfA Reviewed by: Nick Garland ACIfA Date: January 2015 Document version M:\HC\Projects\Projects 1601- 1700\14.1671 - New Inn Farm, Tenby\Reports\14 1671 - Heritage Statement - New Inn Wind Turbine (2015 01 28) v 4.docx HeritageCollective CONTENTS PAGE NO. 1.0 INTRODUCTION 4 2.0 LEGISLATION AND POLICY FRAMEWORK 6 3.0 ASSESSMENT OF INDIRECT IMPACTS 11 4.0 ASSESSMENT OF POTENTIAL DIRECT IMPACTS 18 5.0 CONCLUSIONS 21 APPENDICES Appendix 1: Site location maps Appendix 2: Designated Heritage Assets within 3km of the proposed turbine (map and list) Appendix 3: Entries on the Dyfed Historic Environment Record within 2km (map and list) Heritage Assessment Land north of Summerton On behalf of Constantine January 2015 © 3 Farm, Tenby, Pembrokeshire Wind Energy HeritageCollective 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This heritage statement has been prepared by Heritage Collective on behalf of Constantine Wind Energy. It relates to the proposed erection of a single wind turbine on land north of New Inn Farm, Tenby, Pembrokeshire. The height of the proposed turbine would be a maximum of 50m to tip and it will stand to the north of the B4318 road. The proposed turbine is centred at National Grid Reference (NGR) SN (2)08261, (2)03155. 1.2 The author of this report has extensive experience of assessing the effects of change to the historic environment, both in terms of built heritage and below ground archaeology and in urban and rural contexts. This experience includes having written or contributed to numerous heritage chapters for environmental statements dealing with the effects of wind farms (amongst others), in Wales, Scotland and England. 1.3 A site walkover was carried out by Karl Hulka ACIfA, Director of Archaeology at Heritage Collective and the relevant conservation areas, listed buildings, scheduled monuments were visited. Background, purpose and scope 1.4 This heritage statement has been prepared in support of the application in response to a screening response provided by Pembrokeshire County Council on the 22nd September 2014 (Ref: SC/0789/13) which called for, amongst other supporting documents; An assessment of impact on the Historic Landscape An assessment of impact on the architectural and archaeological heritage of the area 1.5 Accordingly, and following discussions with Mr Mike Ings of Dyfed Archaeological Trust (DAT), it was agreed that a 2km search of the Historic Environment Record (HER), centred on the proposed turbine location, would be sufficient to assess the archaeological potential of the application site and that in the first instance, an archaeological appraisal accompanied by a site walk-over would provide a proportionate approach. Heritage Assessment Land north of Summerton On behalf of Constantine January 2015 © 4 Farm, Tenby, Pembrokeshire Wind Energy HeritageCollective 1.6 This assessment takes into account the potential impact of the proposed wind turbine on “heritage assets”, including listed buildings, conservation areas and archaeology (both scheduled and non-scheduled) within the vicinity of the proposed turbine. Direct archaeological impacts are considered, as well as the indirect impact on the settings of heritage assets. 1.7 Experience of other wind energy proposals suggests that a study area with a radius of 2km around the proposed 50m turbine is sufficient to identify all the heritage assets that could reasonably be said to be indirectly affected by the development. In this case registered parks and gardens, historic battlefields and world heritage sites are not considered because there are none within the study area. 1.8 In addition to the 2km study area, consideration has been given to the possibility that there may be other heritage assets beyond the study area, in this case up to 3km from the proposals, which could be affected; these are commonly scheduled monuments and higher graded listed buildings (i.e. grades I and II*). Two listed buildings and three scheduled monuments have been identified beyond the study area and these are discussed in Section 3. 1.9 In terms of listed buildings, the study areas takes in a total of seven listed buildings in the settlements of Redberth and St Florence, as well as more disparate buildings, including a farmhouse, a limekiln and two ruined medieval houses. There is one grade I listed building, the medieval house to the rear of West Tarr Farm and two grade II* listed buildings, namely the Church of St Florence and Carswell medieval house. The remaining buildings are listed grade II. 1.10 A proportionate approach has been taken in which the depth of the assessment is related to the importance of the heritage assets concerned, and to the likely effects on their special interest arising from the proposed turbine. Heritage Assessment Land north of Summerton On behalf of Constantine January 2015 © 5 Farm, Tenby, Pembrokeshire Wind Energy HeritageCollective 2.0 LEGISLATION AND POLICY FRAMEWORK Legislation 2.1 Legislation relating to listed buildings is contained in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990. Section 66 of the Act places a duty on the decision maker to have special regard to the desirability of preserving listed buildings and their settings. 2.2 Legislation regarding archaeology, including scheduled ancient monuments, is contained in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, amended by the National Heritage Act 1983 and 2002. Welsh Office Circular 60/96 and 61/96 2.3 On 5th December 1996 the Welsh Office issued Circular 60/96: “Planning and the Historic Environment: Archaeology” and Circular 61/96: “Planning and the Historic Environment: Historic Buildings and Conservation Areas”. In considering any planning application for development, the decision maker needs to be mindful of the policy framework set by this government guidance and also by current Development Plan policy and by other material considerations. Welsh Office Circular 61/96 2.4 Paragraph 7 of the Circular deals with the publication of notices of planning applications for development by local planning authorities. It states that, in the publication of notices, “this requirement should not be interpreted narrowly”. 2.5 Paragraph 11 of the Circular deals specifically with the setting of listed buildings. It states that: “[…] The setting is often an essential part of a [listed] building’s character especially if a park, garden or grounds have been laid out to complement its design or function. Also, the economic viability as well as the character of historic buildings may suffer and they can be robbed of much of their interest and of the contribution they make to townscape or the countryside if they Heritage Assessment Land north of Summerton On behalf of Constantine January 2015 © 6 Farm, Tenby, Pembrokeshire Wind Energy HeritageCollective become isolated from their surroundings, e.g. by new traffic routes, car parks, or other development.” 2.6 This paragraph provides the clearest explanation in the Circular of: i what is meant by setting (there is no definition of “setting” as such in the Circular); and ii what should be protected from harm in terms of applications affecting the setting of a listed building. 2.7 Taking these in turn, the Circular firstly relates the setting of a listed building to its essential character. The Circular rightly notes the way in which a designed garden or formal landscape can serve as an essential component of a listed building’s character; it is easy to appreciate how a formal garden can complement a historic building by creating a sense of place, and defining or directing significant lines of sight of the building, or channel views from principal rooms within a building, et cetera. Such designed landscapes, and in particular sight lines or laid out vistas, can include distant land. 2.8 The Circular does not, however, state or imply that any or all distant land in the context of a listed building should necessarily be considered essential to its character. Neither does the Circular state or imply that the visibility of a new development from, or in conjunction with, a listed building would necessarily affect its character, or result in harm. 2.9 In most cases the land which plays the most essential role in contributing towards the character or interest of a building is its immediate surroundings, even in more open, rural contexts. For example, the relation between a farmhouse and its outbuildings, as well as its farmyard (which is usually well defined) is in most cases the most critical aspect in terms of its setting. This is the ‘arena’ in which the building is experienced and it can have an influence on the perceived character of the building. Other relevant factors usually include: the orientation of the building (with particular reference to associated buildings, roads and other features); the direction from which the building is approached or seen; the relation between the building and landscape associated features such as watercourses and fields; and the role of the building in terms of group value with other buildings or structures, including functional and historic associations. Heritage Assessment Land north of Summerton On behalf of Constantine January 2015 © 7 Farm, Tenby, Pembrokeshire Wind Energy HeritageCollective 2.10 The Circular then gives practical examples of how development in the setting of a listed building can cause harm. The examples indicate the nature and type of such harmful development, including ‘robbing’ the special interest of a listed building, or isolating it from its surroundings. It is noted that the economic viability of listed buildings can be compromised by such development; the result of which could be that buildings would fall into dereliction and disrepair.