Northstowe Archeology and Built Heritage Strategy
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27 Northstowe archeology and built heritage strategy december 2007 prepared by on behalf of English Partnerships and Gallagher Longstanton Ltd ARCHAEOLOGY AND BUILT HERITAGE STRATEGY Contents Page 1 Introduction 1 2 Planning Policy 5 3 Buried Archaeological Rem ains 9 4 Built Heritage – RAF Oakington 27 5 Com m unity Involvem ent 32 6 Conclusions 38 References 41 Appendix 1: Archaeological Site Gazetteer Figures Figure 1 Site Location Plan and Known Archaeological Sites Figure 2 Extent of Geophysical Survey Figure 3 Extent of Evaluative Trial Trenching and Fieldwalking Figure 4 Site Location Plan Showing Archaeological Zones and Sites within Northstowe Figure 5 Archaeological Sites to be Preserved In-situ Figure 6 Iron Age Sites Indicating Significance Figure 7 Indicative Plan Showing Excavation Sampling Strategy for Typical Iron Age Enclosure Figure 8 Roman Sites Indicating Significance Figure 9 Archaeological Sites Requiring No Further Archaeological Investigation Figure 10 Structures and Buildings within Oakington Barracks and Airfield to be preserved or Requiring Further Work Figure 11 Locations of Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings Figure 12 Location of Archaeological Sites in Relation To Indicative Construction Stage Plan Tables Table 1 List of Known Archaeological Sites Table 2 Northstowe Archaeological Significance Criteria and Indicators Northstowe Planning Applications WSP Environmental December 2007 English Partnerships and Gallagher Longstanton Ltd ARCHAEOLOGY AND BUILT HERITAGE STRATEGY Table 3 Iron Age Excavation Strategy – Site Selection Framework Northstowe Planning Applications WSP Environmental December 2007 English Partnerships and Gallagher Longstanton Ltd ARCHAEOLOGY AND BUILT HERITAGE STRATEGY 1 Introduction 1.1.1 The proposed Northstowe development is situated within the South Cambridgeshire District located to the north-west of Cambridge, to the east of Longstanton and to the north of Oakington and is bounded by the disused Cambridge to St Ives railway line to the east (Figure 1). The red line development boundary is referred to as Northstowe throughout the strategy. 1.1.2 The development has evolved over a number of years with the vision of creating a sustainable, exemplar scheme which will aim to contribute to meeting the regions housing requirements and the Governments targets for sustainable housing. 1.1.3 Northstowe is situated within the Cambridgeshire Sub Region and will assist in the future growth and success of the area by responding to the need to provide land for development. The national economic importance of the sub region has already been recognised as a consequence of the success and growth of both the education institutions and the research and development activities and their associated industries. Policy is seeking to encourage future growth within the sub region and is emphasising the need to provide more housing closer to the job growth. Northstowe will address a proportion of the housing and employment needed to support the future growth of the sub region. 1.2 THE NORTHSTOW E VISION 1.2.1 The vision for Northstowe is not just one of a town which fulfils all the necessary policy requirements, but one of an exemplar, sustainable town which is both balanced, efficient and adaptive. 1.2.2 In order for the new development to be balanced, it must fit into the existing landscape and surrounding communities in a way in which acknowledges the contexts of its surroundings and integrates, where possible existing characters of the environment within which it is situated. It should evolve in a manner which minimises detriment and should also aim to maximise benefits. It should also recognise that there is a balance between town and country, community and region and should strive to cultivate a community which appreciates the context within which the new town is situated. There will also be a tight connection between the new town and the sub regional area within which it is based, with both providing services and resources upon which the other depends, which will integrate the new town closely into its surroundings. 1.2.3 The aim of this exemplar scheme is to achieve a town which is efficient in all aspects, both during its creation and throughout its lifetime. The physical and special character will predispose itself to sustainable living, working and moving and the emphasis will be on avoiding waste, optimising use and recycling. 1.2.4 In order for the new town to develop in these ways, and to remain an exemplar scheme throughout its lifetime, it must be adaptable to change, have the ability to evolve and adjust within its settings and in a manner suitable to the surrounding character within which it is situated. The intrinsic flexibility of the new towns layout and infrastructure will accommodate any changing uses, patterns of living and surrounding environment. 1.2.5 To achieve the above, a number of objectives have been identified (and agreed with stakeholders), which address particular aspects of Northstowe, the first of which is Environmental Protection and Enhancement. Targets or statements of intent have been set, against which the development will be measured. These objectives have also helped in shaping the design and master planning proposals for Northstowe and have provided a basis for identifying indicators against which the environmental performance can be assessed. Northstowe Planning Applications Page 1 WSP Environmental December 2007 English Partnerships and Gallagher Longstanton Ltd ARCHAEOLOGY AND BUILT HERITAGE STRATEGY 1.3 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPM ENT 1.3.1 This development will contribute to the provision of housing (and associated facilities including retail and employment) to support the increasing population and associated demand for housing within Cambridgeshire, in accordance with principles and polices within national, regional and local guidance. 1.3.2 The proposals for Northstowe are set out in four linked planning applications. 1.3.3 The proposals for the core area, set out in the outline planning application (Application 1), include the following: approximately 9,500 dwellings employment uses (approximately 136,000sq.m.) retail uses (approximately 54,500sq.m.) hotels and leisure (approximately 22,800sq.m.) community and health facilities education facilities (including 6 primary schools and a secondary school) play, sport and recreation facilities (including outdoor sport, children's play space, informal open space, allotments and burial ground) a household waste recycling facility and sewage pumping station 1.3.4 The proposals for the off-site infrastructure works comprise of three detailed planning applications: Application 2 - The highway link from the proposed new town to Hatton's Road and the improvements to Hatton's Road (including landscaping and drainage). Application 3 - The highway link from the proposed new town to Dry Drayton Road and the improvements to Dry Drayton Road (including landscaping and drainage). Application 4 - Highways improvements to the A14 corridor between the A14/Hatton's Road junction and A14/Dry Drayton Road junction that can be delivered by the joint applicants in advance of the Highways Agency's proposals for the A14. 1.3.5 A full description of the proposals for Northstowe are set out in Application Document 1: Development Specification. 1.3.6 Surface water and drainage infrastructure will comply with PPS25. The drainage strategy will be designed not to place the development at any unnecessary flood risk itself or to third parties. The existing flooding problems at Longstanton and Oakington will be mitigated by a number of off-site attenuation areas and ponds on both the Longstanton and Oakington Brooks. 1.4 THE NEED FOR AN ARCHAEOLOGY AND BUILT HERITAGE STRATEGY 1.4.1 This vision for Northstowe will be delivered, from an archaeological perspective, through the development and implementation of the Archaeology and Built Heritage Strategy. The strategy has been developed through consultation with archaeologists, ecologists, landscape architects, drainage engineers and planners to ensure that archaeological and the built heritage at Northstowe has influenced the design of the new town and the proposals. The Masterplan has been developed to accommodate archaeology, and will be further delivered through the elements set out in the strategy. 1.4.2 The strategy has been prepared and developed by WSP with significant expert input and assistance from Cambridge Archaeological Unit at the University of Cambridge (CAU) and Airfield Northstowe Planning Applications Page 2 WSP Environmental December 2007 English Partnerships and Gallagher Longstanton Ltd ARCHAEOLOGY AND BUILT HERITAGE STRATEGY Research Projects (ARP). CAU are specialists in the archaeology of Cambridgeshire and have undertaken a considerable amount of work within this area, ARP are specialists in RAF airfield research. It has been prepared in consultation with the Planning Archaeologist of Cambridgeshire County Council and it is the intention of this document to be adopted for each of the future development stages. 1.4.3 The primary aim of the strategy is that it will form strategic advice and be used as a key reference by future developers to ensure the objectives, principles and mitigation measures within the strategy are adhered to across the whole development and for its entire duration. 1.4.4 The strategy is divided into six sections and the conclusion outlined in Chapter 6. Chapter 3 discusses buried archaeological remains, including the known archaeological