Newburn Sidings, Swindon
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OneSwindon Newburn Sidings, Swindon Archaeological Desk Based Assessment and Heritage Statement 662140 OCTOBER 2020 RSK GENERAL NOTES Project No.: 662140 Title: Newburn Sidings, Swindon Archaeological Desk Based Assessment and Heritage Statement Client: OneSwindon Date: January 2021 Office: Manchester Status: Rev 1.2 Author Owen Raybould Technical reviewer Laurence Hayes Signature Signature Date: 26/10/20 Date: 26/10/20 Project Manager Tamzin Wood 26/10/20 RSK Environment Ltd (RSK) has prepared this report for the sole use of the client, showing reasonable skill and care, for the intended purposes as stated in the agreement under which this work was completed. The report may not be relied upon by any other party without the express agreement of the client and RSK. No other warranty, expressed or implied, is made as to the professional advice included in this report. Where any data supplied by the client or from other sources have been used, it has been assumed that the information is correct. No responsibility can be accepted by RSK for inaccuracies in the data supplied by any other party. The conclusions and recommendations in this report are based on the assumption that all relevant information has been supplied by those bodies from whom it was requested. No part of this report may be copied or duplicated without the express permission of RSK and the party for whom it was prepared. Where field investigations have been carried out, these have been restricted to a level of detail required to achieve the stated objectives of the work. This work has been undertaken in accordance with the quality management system of RSK Environment Ltd. OneSwindon Newburn Sidings 662140 i NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY RSK Environment Ltd (RSK) has been commissioned by OneSwindon to prepare a combined archaeological Desk-Based Assessment (DBA) and Heritage Statement (HS) in relation to proposed development at the site known as ‘Newburn Sidings’ in Swindon, (Central Swindon South CP), Wiltshire. The report assesses the historic environment constraints of the site in relation to buried archaeological deposits (potential direct impacts upon physical remains) and the potential for significant adverse visual effects on heritage assets and their settings in the wider area. This report describes the development proposals, identifies heritage assets potentially affected within a 1km study area, provides a statement of their significance and the contribution that setting makes to that significance, and assesses the impact that the development proposals may have on their significance. Measures incorporated into the design to minimise harm are identified. There are two conservation areas, 88 listed buildings, two scheduled monuments, and 100 non- designated heritage assets recorded by the Wiltshire HER within a 1km study area surrounding the application site. There are no known heritage assets of any period recorded by the Wiltshire HER or Historic England’s NRHE within the site boundary (see Figures 5 and 6). Archaeological Potential Historic mapping and LiDAR data illustrate imported levelling fill across the majority of the proposed development site. Made ground is recorded across the majority of the site by the BGS, and across the entire site through geotechnical investigations (Atkins, 2015). There is a low potential for Medieval field boundary remains to be preserved within the site boundary which would be of local archaeological significance. A subway, culverted river, and the remains of a property “Newburn” are preserved beneath the made ground within the site, however the remains are of limited archaeological or historical value, likely to be of local significance. The proposed development site formed part of the GWR Works, operating as a sidings from the 1880s onwards, variously including two/three large buildings of an unknown function (likely warehouses) at the site’s northern end. Given the lack of subsequent development it is likely that the foundations of these buildings survive, however the remains are of limited archaeological or historical value, likely to be of local significance. Due to the extensive development of the site as detailed on historic maps and plans there is a low potential for hitherto unknown remains of significance to be preserved within the application site boundary. Setting Assessment The Heritage Statement presented in this report has identified that two conservation areas, one scheduled monument, seven listed buildings, and three non-designated heritage assets within the study area are sensitive to change within their settings. Of these, the proposed development site is located within the setting of the Railway Village and Railway Works conservation areas (RSK 200 and RSK 199), as well as Grade II and II* listed OneSwindon Newburn Sidings 662140 ii buildings: the Church of St Mark (RSK 23), the V Shop and O and E Shops (RSK 71) and Old L2 Shop (RSK 72), the GWR Turntable (RSK 73), and the Pattern Store/Watertank (RSK 89), and non-designated heritage assets: the Weigh House to the GWR (RSK 189), and the Great Western Railway Line (RSK 145). Currently, the proposed development site does not contribute to the character of the surrounding historic environment, however, its former use as part of the GWR Works is historically significant. Therefore, it is important that the boundaries are preserved such that the former outline of the sidings will be discernible. As is demonstrated in the ‘measures for minimising harm’ (Section 12), all elements of the proposed development have been informed by precedents from the surrounding historic environment. As such, there is an opportunity for the proposed development to contribute to the significance and character of the area, by acting as a ‘gateway’, referencing the heritage, and introducing and enhancing visitors’ experience of both conservation areas. In the same way, the proposed development site is also visible from the train immediately before/after it passes through the conservation areas and therefore an opportunity is presented to expand on and enhance the character of the area through the introduction of sensitively designed buildings on an otherwise derelict piece of land. In general, it is considered that the proposed development would create a harmonious character on the periphery of and with Swindon’s industrial railway heritage. No harm to the historic environment is predicted. Conclusion It is not anticipated that there will be any significant physical impacts upon archaeological remains within the site boundary that will require mitigation. Assuming the detailed design of the proposed development accords with the outline design considered in this Heritage Statement, it is assessed that no harm would occur in relation to the significance of the historic environment. The proposed development does not contravene any national, regional or local policy tests. OneSwindon Newburn Sidings 662140 iii CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 7 Acknowledgements and Quality Assurance ..................................................................................... 8 2 SITE DESCRIPTION ...................................................................................................................... 10 Location and Description ................................................................................................................ 10 Geology .......................................................................................................................................... 12 Historic Landscape Character ........................................................................................................ 13 3 DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS ..................................................................................................... 14 Character Area: The Turntable Circus............................................................................................ 16 Character Area: Railway Village ..................................................................................................... 16 Character Area: Newburn Square .................................................................................................. 17 Character Area: River View Apartments......................................................................................... 17 Character Area: Wootton Bassett Gateway ................................................................................... 17 4 CONSULTATION ........................................................................................................................... 18 Pre-Application 1 ............................................................................................................................ 18 Pre-Application 2 ............................................................................................................................ 20 5 LEGISLATION, POLICY AND GUIDANCE ................................................................................... 21 Statutory Protection ........................................................................................................................ 21 Setting and Group Value ........................................................................................................ 22 Local Planning Policy...................................................................................................................... 23 Material Consideration