Mount Lothian Wind Farm, Penicuik Cultural Heritage Assessment
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Mount Lothian Wind Farm, Penicuik Cultural Heritage Assessment CFA ARCHAEOLOGY LTD The Old Engine House Eskmills Business Park Musselburgh East Lothian EH21 7PQ Tel: 0131 273 4380 Fax: 0131 273 4381 email: [email protected] web: www.cfa-archaeology.co.uk Author Helena Gray Illustrator Editor George Mudie Commissioned by Wind Prospect Developments Ltd Date issued January 2013 OASIS Reference cfaarcha1-252683 Grid Ref NT 2679 5606 This document has been prepared in accordance with CFA Archaeology Ltd standard operating procedures. Mount Lothian Wind Farm, Penicuik Cultural Heritage Assessment MOUNT LOTHIAN WIND FARM ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT JANUARY 2014 CULTURAL HERITAGE 9 CULTURAL HERITAGE 9.1 INTRODUCTION 9.1.1 This chapter considers the effects on cultural heritage interests of the construction and operation of the proposed Mount Lothian Wind Farm, Midlothian. The assessment has been carried out by CFA Archaeology Ltd (CFA), in accordance with the Institute for Archaeologist’s Code of Conduct (IfA 2010), and Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Desk-based Assessment (IfA 2011), using information provided by Historic Scotland (HS), and both East Lothian Council Archaeology Service (ELCAS) (on behalf of Midlothian Council) and Scottish Borders Council Archaeology Service (SBCAS). 9.1.2 The specific objectives of the cultural heritage study were to: Identify the cultural heritage baseline within and in the vicinity of the development site; Consider the development site in terms of its archaeological and historic environment potential; Assess the effects of the construction and operation of the wind farm on the cultural heritage resource, within the context of relevant legislation and planning policy guidance; and Propose measures, where appropriate, to mitigate any predicted significant adverse effects, and assess residual effects taking the mitigation into account. 9.1.3 Figure 9.1, Volume 3 shows the proposed development site, a proposed re-route of a horse-trail and the crossroad realignment at the junction of the A6094 and B6372 to the north of Herbertshaw, together with the cultural heritage sites and features identified by the study. A gazetteer of the sites and features identified is provided in Appendix 9.1, Volume 4. 9.1.4 Figure 9.2, Volume 3 shows the proposed development in its wider landscape setting with the blade tip height Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV) and the location of cultural heritage assets within 10km of the proposed development and from which locations there is a predicted view of the turbines. Appendix 9.2, Volume 4 provides a list of those assets and a tabulated summary assessment of the effects on their individual settings. 9.1.5 Figure 93, Volume 3 shows the proposed development in its wider landscape setting with the blade tip height ZTV, the location of cultural heritage assets within 10km of the proposed development and cumulative wind farm schemes within a 15km radius of the proposed development. 1 MOUNT LOTHIAN WIND FARM ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT JANUARY 2014 CULTURAL HERITAGE 9.1.6 Figures 9.40a-c, Volume 3 show the indicative route for the development grid connection, together with the cultural heritage sites and features identified within a 200m study corridor centred on the indicative route. A gazetteer of the sites and features identified is provided in Appendix 9.3, Volume 4. Figures 9.40a-c, Volume 3 also show those cultural heritage assets with statutory and non-statutory designations, that lie within a 1km wide study corridor centred on the indicative grid connection route. A list of these assets is provided in tabulated form in Table 9.9. It is worth noting that the exact grid connection route will be determined by the Local Distribution Network Operator, Scottish Power, and this will be subject to a separate planning application. 9.2 PLANNING AND LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND National Planning Policy and Guidance Scottish Historic Environment Policy 9.2.2 The Scottish Historic Environment Policy (SHEP) sets out Scottish Ministers’ policies for the historic environment, and provides policy direction for Historic Scotland and a framework that informs the day-to-day work of a range of organisations that have a role and interest in managing Scotland’s historic environment. Through the implementation of the SHEP, Scottish Ministers wish to achieve three outcomes for Scotland’s historic environment: 1) That the historic environment is cared for, protected and enhanced for the benefit of our own and future generations; 2) To secure greater economic benefits from the historic environment; and 3) That the people of Scotland and visitors to our country value, understand and enjoy the historic environment. Scottish Planning Policy 9.2.3 Cultural heritage resources (hereafter, heritage assets) include sites with statutory and non-statutory designations as set out in Scottish Planning Policy (SPP). 9.2.4 Assets with statutory designations include: Scheduled Ancient Monuments; Listed Buildings; and Conservation Areas. 9.2.5 Assets with non-statutory designations include: World Heritage Sites; 2 MOUNT LOTHIAN WIND FARM ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT JANUARY 2014 CULTURAL HERITAGE Gardens and Designed Landscapes; Historic Battlefields; and Other Historic Environment Interests. 9.2.6 Those heritage assets that are relevant to the proposed development are: Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings, Inventory status Gardens and Designed Landscapes, Historic Battlefields, Conservation Areas, and other historic environment Interests. There are no World Heritage Sites that would be affected by the development. Designated Shipwrecks are not relevant in the context of the proposed development. Sites with Statutory Designations Scheduled Monuments 9.2.7 Under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 (1979 Act), the Scottish Ministers are required to compile and maintain a schedule of monuments considered to be of importance. The consent of the Scottish Ministers is required before any works are carried out which would have the effect of demolishing, destroying, damaging, removing, repairing, altering, adding to, flooding or covering up a Scheduled Monument. In addition, effects of proposed developments upon the setting of a Scheduled Monument can be a material consideration in planning terms. Listed Buildings 9.2.8 Under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 (1997 Act), the Scottish Ministers are required to compile a list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest. Such buildings are classified into Categories A, B and C, in decreasing order of importance. Planning authorities and the Scottish Ministers are required to have special regard for the desirability of preserving Listed Buildings and their settings, and any features of special architectural or historic importance they possess. Conservation Areas 9.2.9 Under the 1997 Act, areas of special architectural or historic interest can be designated as Conservation Areas, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance. Planning Authorities are required to carefully consider planning applications affecting the appearance, character or setting of Conservation Areas. 3 MOUNT LOTHIAN WIND FARM ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT JANUARY 2014 CULTURAL HERITAGE Sites with Non-Statutory Designations Inventory Gardens and Designed Landscapes 9.2.10 The impact of a development on a designated Garden or Designed Landscape listed in ‘An Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland or its Supplements’ (Inventory; published by Historic Scotland) is a material consideration in the determination of a planning application, although the designation is non-statutory in effect. Under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) (Scotland) Order 1992 (1992 Order), planning authorities must consult Historic Scotland on any development that may affect a site contained in the Inventory. Scottish Government policy and guidance is also provided in SHEP and SPP. Non-Inventory Historic Gardens and Designed Landscapes that do not merit inclusion in the Inventory are designated by the local council and are included in Local Plans. Historic Battlefields 9.2.11 Under the provisions set out in Section 32B(1) of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, Historic Scotland has compiled an Inventory of Historic Battlefields which it considers to be of national importance. The inventory provides information on those battlefields which are provided with statutory protection, to enable their sustainable management through the planning system. The impact of a development on a Historic Battlefield listed in The Inventory of Historic Battlefields (published by Historic Scotland) is a material consideration in the determination of a planning application. SHEP recommends that local development plans and, where appropriate, supplementary planning guidance, should set out policies and criteria that apply to the protection, conservation and management of historic battlefields. Other Historic Environment Interests 9.2.12 There is a range of other non-designated archaeological sites, monuments and areas of historic interest, including other (non-inventory) battlefields, historic landscapes, other (non-inventory) gardens and designed landscapes, woodlands and routes such as drove roads that do not have statutory protection. Sites without statutory protection are curated by the local planning authority, and SPP and PAN 2/2011 provide national planning policy