3. Description of the Site and Surrounding Area

Location and Setting

3.1 The Site extends to approximately 40.2 hectares and is presently in agricultural use. The Site is situated within the administrative boundaries of Swindon Borough Council (SBC) and Wanborough Parish Council.

3.2 The Site currently comprises a number of arable field parcels with boundary hedgerows (of varying quality) and a semi-improved grassland field to the north. To the centre of the Site are situated a number of existing agricultural buildings and a dwelling associated with Inlands Farm. The post 1998 Agricultural Land Classicisation (Ref 3.1), (ALC) classifies the land on Site is Grade 3b which is considered moderate quality agricultural land and not within a grade considered to be ‘Best and Most Versatile’ agricultural land.

3.3 The topographical survey indicates that the Site generally falls from south east to north west. The maximum and minimum ground levels are approximately 130 metres Above Ordnance Datum (m AOD) and 100 m AOD respectively. However, the majority of the Site is predominantly flat lying at an elevation of no more than 100 m AOD.

3.4 The surrounding area is predominantly rural with fields in the immediate surroundings. To the northwest and south, the Site is bounded by public highways; The Marsh and Pack Hill respectively and to the east it is bounded by treed agricultural land that surrounds the western edge of Wanborough.

Historic Land Use

3.5 The Site area is described in the Historic Characterisation Landscape Project (HLCP) as 'Amalgamated Fields' and is allocated the unique ID HWI6549. The Site is shown on the 1st edition OS map as well-established farmland by the later 19th century. The historical mapping indicates that the Site was primarily open fields from the late 1880s, though the fields comprising the site area have seen a degree of modification leading to the loss of a number of historic field boundaries and the amalgamation of eight early fields into four Modern ones. Elements of the historic form can be discerned in the Modern layout on the external boundaries of the site area, which are broadly unchanged since the late 19th century.

3.6 A pond was once present in part of the Site and was subsequently backfilled.

Connection and Access

3.7 The Site is currently accessed via The Marsh to the west.

3.8 Swindon Railway station is located approximately 6.8km to the north west of the Site and can be accessed using the local bus network. There are two existing bus stops that are located within walking distance from the Site, which are the Calley Arms bus stop and The Marsh bus stop.

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3.9 A number of Public Rights of Way (PRoW) transect the Site and adjoin to routes into Swindon, Wanborough and Liddington. A former permissive path also runs along the southern edge of the Site adjacent to Pack Hill. There is no immediate cycle network leading to the Site. In the surrounding area, a network of off-road and on-road cycle ways provide access to Swindon town centre from the Commonhead Roundabout, approximately 500m from the Site’s south eastern boundary.

Built Heritage and Archaeology

3.10 There are no designated heritage assets within the Site. There are numerous listed buildings within 2km of the Site, the closest being in Wanborough and include:

• Moat Cottage (grade II) and Lake Cottage (grade II) – former rural cottages 0.2km to the north of the Site;

• The Lynch House (grade II), Disney Cottage (grade II) and The White House (grade II) - former rural cottages / farmhouses, 0.2km to the south east of the Site within Upper Wanborough village;

• Parish Church of St Andrew (grade I) – included as a local landmark within Upper Wanborough village, 0.3km south east of the Site; and

• Wrightsbridge House Farmhouse and Coachhouse to east (grade II) – a historic farmstead 0.4km to the north east of the Site.

3.11 There are six Scheduled Monuments within 3km of the Site. These are:

• Hall Place (1.1km east of the Site);

• Site of Roman town, west of Wanborough House (1.3km north of the Site);

• Stone circle immediately north east of Day House, Coate (1.5km west of the Site);

• Bowl barrow 85m north east of Day House Cottages (1.6km west of the Site);

• Liddington Castle (2.9km south of the Site); and

• Linear boundary earthwork west of Liddington Castle (3km south of the Site).

3.12 There are three Conservation Areas within 3km of the Site. These are the Upper Wanborough (immediately east of the Site); Lower Wanborough (0.4km east of the Site) and Liddington (0.7 south of the Site).

3.13 Previous archaeological and geophysical assessment surveys have identified a number of buried archaeological features within the Site, which are connected to a wider area of Roman settlement identified as part of the New Eastern Villages (NEV) scheme. On the basis of the geophysical survey, the greater part of the Site appears to be devoid of archaeological interest, although buried evidence for medieval agricultural activity in the form of ridge-and- furrow may survive in some areas, along with medieval agricultural activity predominantly in the form of ridge-and-furrow.

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Landscape and Visual

3.14 With respect to landscape, the Site falls outside of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the boundary of which is situated immediately to the south of Pack Hill, directly south of the Site. The Site falls within an opportunity for the proposed Great Western Community Forest.

3.15 The Site is identified as falling within the Vale of White Horse Landscape Character Area as defined within the Swindon Landscape Character Area SPG (Ref 3.2) (adopted 2004). Key characteristics of the area include: extensive views towards the Downs; numerous ponds and small streams; substantial tree cover pre 1970 but much reduced since the onset of Dutch Elm disease; and, perception of a remote landscape. The Site falls within an opportunity area for the proposed Great Western Community Forest. The Site is also covered by Policy NC3 – Indicative Non- Coalescence area which relates to the setting of Upper Wanborough in the context of the southern edge of the planned NEV development area as set out in the Swindon Borough Local Plan 2026 (Ref 3.3).

3.16 The Site is currently reasonably contained to the north, east and west and open to longer distance views from the south.

Biodiversity (flora and fauna)

Designated Sites 3.17 There are no statutory or non-statutory nature conservation designations on the Site or immediately adjacent land. There are no internationally protected sites (Special Protection Areas, Special Areas of Conservation or Ramsar Sites) located within 10km of the Site.

3.18 The closest Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is the Coate Water SSSI. This 51.1ha SSSI lies approximately 1.7km to the west of the Site. Coate Water has a diverse breeding bird population associated with two lakes and adjacent semi-natural vegetation. The site is one of the most important in Wiltshire for breeding Reed Warbler and Great Crested Grebes. It also supports a wide range of dragonflies and damselflies and has botanical interest. A portion of the south western corner of the Site (approximately 1.3ha) lies within the 1-2km Impact Risk Zone (IRZ) for the Coate Water SSSI and the remainder of the site falls within the 2-3km IRZ for this SSSI, as identified from the MAGIC online database (Ref 3.4).

3.19 There is one Local Nature Reserve (LNR) within 2km of the Site (the Coate Water LNR, approximately 1.8km south east) and no National nature Reserves.

3.20 There are five Local Wildlife Sites (LWS’s) within 2km of the Site, the closest of which is the River Cole LWS. This 37.9ha LWS lies approximately 150m to the west of the Site at its closest point and comprises a river complex draining Swindon into the Thames.

Habitats 3.21 No areas of woodland included in Natural England’s Inventory of Ancient Woodland are located within or adjacent to the Site or within 2km of the Site boundary.

3.22 A Woodland Trust site, Warneage Wood, is located approximately 50m to the north of the Site at its closest point. The woodland was planted in 1994/5 using locally present broadleaved tree and shrub species into previously agricultural grassland. A number of Black

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Poplars were planted to help increase the local population and to improve the survival prospects of what is otherwise considered a rare species in Britain.

3.23 In general terms, the Site is dominated by habitats of low nature conservation interest in their own right, being dominated by a series of large, intensively farmed arable fields. Also of limited interest are the smaller fields comprising species-poor grassland located in the central area and to the east of the Site, and the buildings and hardstanding associated with Inlands Farm. Habitats of higher ecological interest, albeit considered in combination to be of no more than local interest in their own right, are restricted to field margins and include:

• Hedgerows located around field and site boundaries;

• A pond located on the western site margin; and

• Areas of recent tree and scrub planting/ regeneration.

Species 3.24 Only one possible bat roost has been identified on Site to date. This relates to a potential low-status non-breeding roost supporting an individual/ low number of Common Pipistrelle located within a farm building in the centre of the Site.

3.25 Only low levels of bat foraging and commuting activity have been recorded during the bat activity survey. The majority of activity relates to Common Pipistrelle. Other species recorded generally as single passes include Noctule, Soprano Pipistrelle, Myotis sp. and possible Serotine. Bat activity was generally recorded from field boundary features such as hedgerows and around the buildings and trees in the central area of the Site.

3.26 No active Badger setts, or other evidence of Badger activity, have been recorded from the Site or its immediate surrounds.

3.27 The extent of suitable habitat for reptiles at the Site is very limited and no reptiles have been recorded on Site to date.

3.28 No waterbodies within the Site or within 250m of the Site were recorded as containing Great Crested Newt DNA. It is therefore extremely unlikely that Great Crested Newts are present at the Site within either terrestrial or aquatic phases.

Local Air Quality, Noise and Lighting Environment

3.29 In 2018. SBC declared a section of the A4289 Kingshill Road (from grid reference 414635E 183838N to the Okus Road junction) as an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) (Ref 3.5) for exceedances of the UK Air Quality Strategy (AQS) objective for annual mean nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations. The Site is not located within the AQMA, which is approximately 4.7km west.

3.30 The main source of local air pollution in the vicinity of the Site is road traffic emissions from vehicles using the local road networking, including The Marsh, Pack Hill and the A419. There are no industrial sources in the immediate vicinity of the Site that would significantly influence the local air quality.

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3.31 The noise climate on the Site is likely to be influenced by road traffic on the A419 to the west of the Site and, to a much lesser extent, the local roads. The A419 is approximately 230m from the Site at its closest point. There are numerous Noise Important Areas (as defined at European noise mapping level) on the surrounding road network. These mostly lie to the west and south of the Site on the M4 motorway, A419 and A4259.

3.32 Given the agricultural nature of the Site, it is anticipated that existing lighting installations within the Site would be limited to the farmhouse and associated structures. As such, the lighting environment within the Site is anticipated to be indicative of an E2 Environmental Zone (‘low district brightness’). The surrounding road network is generally unlit, with only a number of installations noted on the approach to the junction between the A419 and Pack Hill, as well as lighting installation on the A419. Therefore, the lighting environment along the surrounding road network is also considered to be indicative of E2 Environmental Zone (‘low district brightness’).

3.33 Due to the existing land uses within the surrounding area, the lighting environment is considered to range from an E1/E2 Environmental Zone (‘intrinsically dark / low district brightness) in more agricultural / rural locations to E2/E3 Environmental Zone (low / medium district brightness) within the village of Wanborough. In contrast, within Swindon the lighting environment is considered likely to be an E3 Environmental Zone (medium district brightness’).

Hydrology and Flood Risk

3.34 The main water features identified are as follows:

• The Liden Brook, an Environment Agency Main River, runs from south to north approximately 150m from the western boundary of the Site;

• A spring fed Ordinary Watercourse flows from south east to north west from Liddington, prior to its convergence with the Liden Brook to the south west of the Site;

• A network of existing drainage ditches is located within the vicinity of the Site. The Site contains two ditches which convey water from the east to the west. These then join, become culverted and pass beneath The Marsh before forming a tributary to the Liden Brook approximately 300m to the north. These ditches intercept runoff generated by the Site prior to discharging into the Liden Brook and are likely to be spring fed due to the underlying geology at Wanborough;

• Field drains are present for undefined lengths which provide highway drainage alongside The Marsh and Pack Hill;

• Groundwater levels have been recorded at or within 0.6m of ground level in six monitoring locations during an initial three month monitoring period starting in March 2018;

• A 150mm diameter Thames Water foul sewer crosses the Site from north to south close to Inlands Farm; and,

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• A Thames Water potable water supply lies to the west of the Site. There are no known public surface water sewers in the vicinity of the Site. A Thames Water foul water infrastructure is present within the Site.

3.35 The Environment Agency’s Flood Map for Planning (Ref 3.6) shows the Site lies entirely within Flood Zone 1. Flood Zone 1 is land assessed as having less than a 0.1% annual probability of flooding (APF).

3.36 The Environment Agency’s Risk of Flooding from Surface Water mapping shows the vast majority of the Site is at a ‘Very Low’ risk of flooding from this source. This is land classified as having an annual probability of fluvial flooding of less than 0.1% APF. Isolated areas adjacent to The Marsh at Inlands Farm and the existing drainage network are shown to be at ‘High Risk’ of flooding from this source. This is land classified as having an annual probability of pluvial flooding of greater than 3.3% APF. Furthermore, SBC have stated in correspondence that “Water is known to pond in the most northern corner of the site along The Marsh and also immediately to the south of the access to Inlands Farm. The Marsh (road) is also known to be liable to flooding from the Inlands Farm access to Burycroft that would need to be accommodated or addressed as part of any development within this site.” The overall risk of surface water flooding at the Site ranges from ‘Very Low’ to ‘High’.

3.37 The Gault Formation underlying the Site is designated as Unproductive Strata (Ref 3.7) and is not located within a groundwater Source Protection Zone (SPZ) for public water supply. However, groundwater monitoring has recorded the presence of groundwater beneath the Site, which is particularly shallow during wet conditions. It is considered that the risk of groundwater flooding to the Site is considered ‘High’.

Geology and Soils

3.38 The British Geological Survey maps (Ref 3.8) indicate that the bedrock beneath the Site is Gault Clay, with no overlying superficial deposits. A preliminary ground investigation at the Site identified the ground conditions to comprise topsoil (0.25 m to 0.5 m thick) over Gault Clay Formation (soft to firm greyish brown silty clay becoming firm to very stiff with selenite crystals). At one location in the north of the Site the underlying Lower Greensand Group was encountered (brown slightly gravelly sand).

3.39 On-site contamination sources are limited due to lack of historical development. Although not identified during the preliminary ground investigation Made Ground may be present in parts of the site associated with the farm, infilled pond and road construction to the south of the Site. There may also be pockets of contamination associated with the agricultural use of the site (i.e. hydrocarbon, pesticides and herbicides).

Community and Socio-Economics

3.40 The Site is located in Ridgeway ward, approximately 6km to the east Swindon town centre, and is nearby to existing business and residential uses in Covingham and Dorcan.

3.41 There are approximately 2,025 people living in Ridgeway ward (Ref 3.9), accounting for 1.4% of Swindon’s population. A slightly higher proportion of those residing in Ridgeway, at 83.3%, are economically active compared to the Swindon average (82.4%), both of which are higher than the England and Wales average (76.8%). Employment rates are also higher in the

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neighbourhood area (80.8%) compared to Swindon (77.1%) and England and Wales (71.0%). Respectively, the unemployment rate is markedly lower in Ridgway (3.0%), compared to Swindon (6.5%) and England and Wales (7.6%). Across Swindon, 295 people are currently claiming JSA, with approximately half of those seeking roles in Sales and Customer Service occupations, a further 45 in Managerial and Senior positions, and 20 in Elementary positions.

3.42 There are approximately 6,000 jobs in Ridgeway, with the most (5,000) in the Health sector. A far higher proportion of those residing in Ridgeway and currently in employment are Managers and Technical Professionals (18.3%), as compared to Swindon (9.5%) and the national average (10.8%).

3.43 Deprivation is low in Ridgeway; the ward is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in the country (Ref 3.10). However, some of the wards nearby, such as Walcot East, Park North and Park South have high rates of deprivation, some ranked in the top 10% most deprived in the country.

3.44 Public Health England’s 2018 profile of Swindon (Ref 3.11) finds that the health of people in Swindon is varied compared with the England average. About 14% (6,100) of children live in low income families. Life expectancy for both men and women is similar to the England average. A lower proportion of residents report long term sickness or disability in Swindon (7.0%) as compared to the national average (8.3%).

Climate Change

3.45 Over time climate change is anticipated to have considerable impacts on the UK climate. The UKCP09 climate change projections (Ref 3.12) conclude it is likely the UK will see increases in summer and winter annual temperatures, increased summer daily maximum temperatures, an increase in winter rainfall, and a decrease in summer rainfall and sea level rise. This is equally applicable to the Site.

Reference List

Ref 3.1 Natural England (2016). Agricultural Land Classificaiton detailed Post 1988 ALC survey, Wanborough (ALCB03396) [Online], available at: http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/6731911048200192 (Accessed on 06.11.2019).

Ref 3.2 Swindon Borough Council (2004). Swindon Landscape Character Area Supplementary Planning Guidance [Online], available at: https://www.swindon.gov.uk/downloads/file/5191/landscape_character_ar eas_supplementary_planning_guidance (Accessed on 06.11.2019).

Ref 3.3 Swindon Borough Council (2015).Swindon Borough Local Plan 2026 [Online], available at: https://www.swindon.gov.uk/info/20113/local_plan_and_planning_policy/6 35/swindon_borough_local_plan_2026 (Accessed on 06.11.2019).

Ref 3.4 Multi Agency Geographical Information for the Countryside (MAGIC) [Online], available at: https://magic.defra.gov.uk/ (Accessed on 06.11.2019).

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Ref 3.5 Defra (2018). AQMA Details [Online], available at: https://uk- air.defra.gov.uk/aqma/details?aqma_ref=1745 (Accessed on 06.11.2019).

Ref 3.6 Environment Agency (no date). Flood Map for Planning [Online]. Available at: https://flood-map-for-planning.service.gov.uk/ (Accessed on 06.11.2019).

Ref 3.7 DEFRA Magic Map accessed 5 July 2018

Ref 3.8 BGS Geology of Britain viewer http://mapapps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyofbritain/home.html accessed 5 July 2018

Ref 3.9 NOMIS (2011). 2011 Ward Labour Markey Profile E36000714 : Ridgeway [Online], available at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/ward2011/1140851402/report.a spx (Accessed on 06.11.2019).

Ref 3.10 Indices of Deprivation 2015 explorer [Online], available at: http://dclgapps.communities.gov.uk/imd/idmap.html (Accessed 06.11.2019).

Ref 3.11 Public Health England (2018). Local Authority Health Profile – Swindon [Online], available at: https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/health- profiles/area-search-results/E12000009?search_type=list-child- areas&place_name=South West (Accessed on 06.11.2019).

Ref 3.12 Met Office (2018). UK Climate Projections (UKCP) [Online], available at: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/approach/collaboration/ukcp/index (accessed on 06.11.2019).

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