Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS
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ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT LAND AT BREDE LANE SEDLESCOMBE EAST SUSSEX TN33 0PS SEPTEMBER 2016 Local Planning Authority: Rother District Council Site centred at: TQ 7847 1808 Authors: Peter Reeves BA (Jt Hons) MCIfA Duncan Hawkins BA (Hons) MSc FSA MCIfA Approved: Duncan Hawkins BA (Hons) MSc FSA MCIfA Report Status: FINAL Issue Date: September 2016 CgMs Ref: PR/DH/16190 © CgMs Limited No part of this report is to be copied in any way without prior written consent. Every effort is made to provide detailed and accurate information, however, CgMs Limited cannot be held responsible for errors or inaccuracies within this report. © Ordnance Survey maps reproduced with the sanction of the controller of HM Stationery Office. Licence No: AL 100014723 Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS CONTENTS Executive Summary 1.0 Introduction and Scope of Study 2.0 Development Plan Framework 3.0 Geology and Topography 4.0 Archaeological and Historical Background 5.0 Site Conditions and the Proposed Development 6.0 Conclusions and Recommendations APPENDIX 1: HER Plot APPENDIX 2: Geophysical Survey LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS Fig. 1 Site location Fig. 2 Gardner and Gream, 1795 Fig. 3 Ordnance Survey, 1808 Fig. 4 C & J Greenwood, 1825 Fig. 5 Tithe Map, 1841 Fig. 6 Ordnance Survey, 1872 Fig. 7 Ordnance Survey, 1898 Fig. 8 Ordnance Survey, 1909 Fig. 9 Ordnance Survey, 1939 Fig. 10 Ordnance Survey, 1961 Fig. 11 Ordnance Survey, 1977 Fig. 12 Ordnance Survey, 2013 Fig. 13 Google Earth, 2013 CgMs Ltd © 1 PR/DH/16190 Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Any proposed development of the study site would be unlikely to have either a significant or widespread archaeological impact. However, unknown archaeological remains of local importance could potentially be represented. The site is thought to have a low archaeological potential for all past periods of human activity, though small quantities of residual finds of Mesolithic and Neolithic date may be represented, together with evidence of land division and agricultural activity spanning the Medieval period to the present. The extreme western edge of the site is noted as being located within an archaeological notification area (ANA) as defined by Rother District Council. The ANA denotes the conjectured line of the Hastings to Ashford Roman Road) however no evidence for this feature was found by the geophysical survey. The geophysical survey identified a curvilinear feature of unknown origin, possibly archaeological, crossing the site from west to east. However, this anomaly coincides with the 100ft contour as shown on the 1961 Ordnance Survey and conforms to the underlying banded geology. On the basis of all the available evidence, we would suggest that if the Local Planning Authority requires any further archaeological mitigation measures, these could follow planning consent secured by an appropriately worded planning condition. CgMs Ltd © 2 PR/DH/16190 Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE OF STUDY 1.1 This archaeological desk-based assessment has been prepared by Duncan Hawkins BA (Hons) MSc FSA MCIfA, of CgMs Consulting and updated by Peter Reeves BA (Jt Hons) MCIfA on behalf of MJH Executive Homes Limited. 1.2 The subject of this assessment, also referred to as the study site, is land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS. The study site is centred on grid reference TQ 7847 1808 (Figure 1). 1.3 In accordance with government policy on archaeology and heritage (NPPF), and Rother District Council’s planning policies, MJH Executive Homes Ltd have commissioned this archaeological desk-based assessment in order to establish the archaeological interest of the site, the extent of any past impacts, and to assess the potential archaeological impact of the proposed development. 1.4 As a result, this desk-based assessment enables relevant parties to assess the extent of any archaeological survivals across the site, the potential archaeological impact of the proposed development and the need or otherwise for archaeological mitigation measures. 1.5 Subsequent to the compilation and submission of the desk-based assessment in 2014 the archaeological officer for Rother District Council has requested that the desk-based assessment is updated and that a geophysical survey be undertaken on the site. This report includes updated data from the Historic Environment Record (HER, Appendix 1) and the completed geophysical survey is appended as Appendix 2. CgMs Ltd © 3 PR/DH/16190 Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS 2.0 PLANNING BACKGROUND AND DEVELOPMENT PLAN FRAMEWORK 2.1 In March 2012, the government published the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which replaced previous national policy relating to heritage and archaeology (PPS5: Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment). The NPPF Planning Practice Guidance was published online 6th March 2014 and updated 10 April 2014 (http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk). 2.2 The Planning Practice Guide previously issued in support of PPS5, together with accompanying English Heritage documentation, was cancelled 25 March 2015, to be replaced by three Good Practice Advice (GPA) documents published by Historic England: GPA 1: The Historic Environment in Local Plans; GPA 2: Managing Significance in Decision-Taking in the Historic Environment, and GPA 3: The Setting of Heritage Assets. 2.1.1 Section 12 of the NPPF, entitled Conserving and Enhancing the Historic Environment provides guidance for planning authorities, property owners, developers and others on the conservation and investigation of heritage assets. Overall, the objectives of Section 12 of the NPPF can be summarised as seeking the: Delivery of sustainable development Understanding the wider social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits brought by the conservation of the historic environment Conservation of England's heritage assets in a manner appropriate to their significance, and Recognition of the contribution that heritage assets make to our understanding of the past. 2.1.2 Section 12 of the NPPF recognises that intelligently managed change may sometimes be necessary if heritage assets are to be maintained for the long term. Paragraph 128 states that planning decisions should be based on the significance of the heritage asset, and that the level of detail supplied by an applicant should be proportionate to the importance of the asset and should be no more than sufficient to review the potential impact of the proposal upon the significance of that asset. 2.1.3 Heritage Assets are defined in Annex 2 of the NPPF as: a building, monument, site, place, area or landscape positively identified as having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions. They include designated heritage assets (as defined CgMs Ltd © 4 PR/DH/16190 Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS in the NPPF) and assets identified by the local planning authority during the process of decision-making or through the plan-making process. 2.1.4 Annex 2 also defines Archaeological Interest as a heritage asset which holds or potentially could hold evidence of past human activity worthy of expert investigation at some point. Heritage assets with archaeological interest are the primary source of evidence about the substance and evolution of places, and of the people and cultures that made them. 2.1.5 A Designated Heritage Asset comprises a: World Heritage Site, Scheduled Monument, Listed Building, Protected Wreck Site, Registered Park and Garden, Registered Battlefield or Conservation Area. 2.1.6 Significance is defined as: The value of a heritage asset to this and future generations because of its heritage interest. This interest may be archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic. Significance derives not only from a heritage asset’s physical presence, but also from its setting. 2.1.7 In short, government policy provides a framework which: Protects nationally important designated Heritage Assets (which include World Heritage Sites, Scheduled Ancient Monuments, Listed Buildings, Protected Wreck Sites, Registered Parks and Gardens, Registered Battlefields or Conservation Areas) Protects the settings of such designations In appropriate circumstances seeks adequate information (from desk based assessment and field evaluation where necessary) to enable informed decisions Provides for the excavation and investigation of sites not significant enough to merit in-situ preservation. 2.2 The NPPG reiterates that the conservation of heritage assets in a manner appropriate to their significance is a core planning principle, requiring a flexible and thoughtful approach. Furthermore, it highlights that neglect and decay of heritage assets is best addressed through ensuring they remain in active use that is consistent with their conservation. Importantly, the guidance states that if complete, or partial loss of a heritage asset is justified, the aim should then be to capture and record the evidence of the asset’s significance, and make the interpretation publically available. Key elements of the guidance relate to assessing harm. An important consideration should be whether the proposed works adversely affect a key element of the heritage asset’s special CgMs Ltd © 5 PR/DH/16190 Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment Land at Brede Lane, Sedlescombe, East Sussex TN33 0PS architectural or historic interest. Additionally, it is the degree of harm, rather than the scale of development, that is to be assessed. The level of ‘substantial harm’ is considered to be a high bar that may not arise in many cases. Essentially, whether a proposal causes substantial harm will be a judgment for the decision taker, having regard to the circumstances of the case and the NPPF. Importantly, harm may arise from works to the asset or from development within its setting. Setting is defined as the surroundings in which an asset is experienced, and may be more extensive than the curtilage.