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Drynie Farm Windfarm, Dingwall Desk Based Assessment and Visual Impact Assessment

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Drynie Farm Windfarm, Dingwall Desk Based Assessment and Visual Impact Assessment AOC Project Number 21463 September 2009 © AOC Archaeology Group 2009 Drynie Farm, Dingwall Desk Based Assessment and Visual Impact Assessment On Behalf of: RockbySea Scotland Limited Prastestrede 5 Overby 4583 Sjallands Odde Denmark National Grid Reference (NGR): NH 53817 63266 AOC Project No: 21463 Prepared by: Mike Roy Illustration by: Douglas Park and Mike Roy Date of Fieldwork: 9-10/09/09 Date of Report: 23/09/09 This document has been prepared in accordance with AOC standard operating procedures. Author: Date: Approved by: Date: Draft/Final Report Stage: Date: Enquiries to: AOC Archaeology Group Edgefield Industrial Estate Edgefield Road Loanhead EH20 9SY Tel. 0131 440 3593 Fax. 0131 440 3422 e‐mail. [email protected] www.aocarchaeology.com © AOC Archaeology Group 2009 Contents Page List of illustrations ................................................................................................................................................................ 1 List of plates .......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 List of appendices ................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Abstract .................................................................................................................................................................................. 2 1 Non-technical Summary .............................................................................................................................................. 3 2 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 3 3 Aims and Objectives .................................................................................................................................................... 6 4 Methodology ................................................................................................................................................................. 6 5 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL EVIDENCE ............................................................................................... 13 6 Walkover Survey ........................................................................................................................................................ 15 7 Development Impact and Mitigation ........................................................................................................................ 15 8 References .................................................................................................................................................................. 21 Site Gazetteer ............................................................................................................................ 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DRYNIE FARM WINDFARM, DINGWALL: DESK BASED ASSESSMENT AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT List of illustrations Figure 1 Location map showing sites of archaeological and cultural heritage interest Figure 2 Extract from map by Blaeu, 1654 Figure 3 Extracts from maps by Thomson, 1832 Figure 4 Extract from map by Ordnance Survey, 1880 Figure 5 Extract from map by Ordnance Survey, 1907 List of plates Plate 1 Track and ford (Site No 40) over Bog a’ Bhreacaich Plate 2 Possible clearance cairn (Site No 50) Plate 3 Possible wall remains (Site No 51) Plate 4 Quarry (Site No 52) Plate 5 Earth boundary bank (Site No 53) over Cnoc a’ Bhreacaich List of appendices Appendix 1 Site Gazetteer © AOC Archaeology 2009 | Page 1 of 28| www.aocarchaeology.com DRYNIE FARM WINDFARM, DINGWALL: DESK BASED ASSESSMENT AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Abstract AOC Archaeology Group was commissioned by RockbySea Scotland Limited to undertake an Archaeological Desk‐based Assessment and Visual Impact Assessment on a proposed windfarm development site at Drynie Farm, north of Dingwall. The Desk‐based Assessment and walkover survey have identified forty‐seven known archaeological sites within 1 km of the proposed development area and have also indicated the potential for encountering hitherto unknown remains. Potential Direct Impacts on seven cultural heritage sites have been identified. Additionally, Visual Impacts on twelve protected sites and monuments have been identified. In compliance with national and local planning policies, it is advised that an archaeological evaluation may be required to be undertaken prior to development. © AOC Archaeology 2009 | Page 2 of 28| www.aocarchaeology.com DRYNIE FARM WINDFARM, DINGWALL: DESK BASED ASSESSMENT AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT 1 Non-technical Summary 1.1 AOC Archaeology Group was commissioned by RockbySea Scotland Limited to undertake an Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment and Visual Impact Assessment with regard to a proposed windfarm development at Drynie Farm, to the north of Dingwall. The site lies within the local authority administrative area of Highland Council, who are advised on all archaeological matters by Highland Council Archaeology Unit. 1.2 Cartographic and documentary sources indicate that the proposed development area has been occupied since at least the post-medieval period, with evidence in the surrounding area for occupation from the prehistoric period. The Desk-based Assessment has identified seven archaeological and cultural heritage sites within the development area, mainly of likely post-medieval to 20th century date. These include earth boundary banks, a possible wall base, a clearance cairn and evidence for quarrying. Given the existence of such sites within the proposed development area and that the site has been undisturbed throughout recent history, there is a possibility of disturbing these and hitherto unknown buried archaeological remains within the site. 1.3 In compliance with national and local planning policies, it is advised that an archaeological evaluation may be required to be undertaken prior to development. The aim of such an evaluation would be to assess the potential for survival of prehistoric or later remains on the proposed development site. A watching brief on groundbreaking works associated with the development is also recommended. 2 Introduction 2.1 Development Site 2.1.1 The proposed development area is located north of the settlement of Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty, Highland. The site is centred at NGR NH 53817 63266 and is bounded by open farmland (pasture) to the north, east and south, and a gravel track to the west. There is woodland to the north-east of the site. 2.1.2 The geology of the area around Drynie Farm consists of Lower Old Red Sandstone. The soils over the site are of the Braemore/Kinsteary Associations, dominated by humus-iron podzols (Futty & Towers 1982, 48-50). The site slopes uphill from c.220 m O.D in the west to 339 m O.D at the summit of Cnoc a’ Bhreacaich in the south-east. 2.2 Development Proposal 2.2.1 RockbySea Scotland Limited commissioned AOC Archaeology Group to undertake an Archaeological Desk-based Assessment and Visual Impact Assessment, including a walkover survey, with regard to a proposed windfarm development at Drynie Farm, north of Dingwall, Highland. © AOC Archaeology 2009 | Page 3 of 28| www.aocarchaeology.com DRYNIE FARM WINDFARM, DINGWALL: DESK BASED ASSESSMENT AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT 2.3 Government and local planning policies 2.3.1 National Planning Policy Guidelines The statutory framework for heritage in Scotland is outlined in the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, as amended in the Planning (listed buildings and conservation areas) (Scotland) Act 1997. 2.3.2 The implications of The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 with regard to local government planning policy are described within Scottish Planning Policy (SPP), Scottish Historic Environment Policy (SHEP) and Planning Advice Notes (PAN) for Scotland. SPP 23 ‘Planning and the Historic Environment’, SHEP ‘Scottish Historic Environment Policy’ and PAN42 'Archaeology - the Planning Process and Scheduled Ancient Monument Procedures' (SOEnD 1994) deal specifically with planning policy in relation to heritage. The planning guidance expresses a general presumption in favour of preserving heritage remains in situ. Their ‘preservation by record’ (i.e. excavation and recording, followed by analysis and publication, by qualified archaeologists) is a less desirable alternative. 2.3.3 SHEP (Historic Scotland 2008) sets out the Scottish Executive’s policy for the sustainable management of the historic environment. Key principles of the policy note that ‘there should be a presumption in favour of preservation of individual historic assets and also the pattern of the wider historic environment; no historic asset should be lost or radically changed without adequate consideration of its significance and of all the means available to manage and conserve it (1.14.b). 2.3.4 Structure Plan The Highland Council Structure Plan 2001 is a strategic land-use planning framework. It sets out policies that reflect National Planning Policies in regards to cultural heritage and which are relevant when considering the possible effects of the development proposed at Drynie Farm: Policy BC1 Preservation of Archaeological sites: ‘Archaeological sites affected by development
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