Download Archaeological and Built Heritage Impact
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
[project name] Headland Archaeology [project code/job] MIPR INNOVATION PARK MEDWAY, ROCHESTER, KENT Archaeological and Built Heritage Impact Assessment for Medway Council (MC) and Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC) 30th August 2018 - 0 - Innovation Park Medway, Rochester Headland Archaeology MIPR INNOVATION PARK MEDWAY, ROCHESTER Archaeological and Built Heritage Impact Assessment for Medway Council (MC) and Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC) 30th August 2018 HA Job no.: MIPR/01 HAS no.: 1308 NGR: 574482 164504 Medway Council & Tonbridge Councils: and Malling District Council Project Manager: Mike Kimber Author: Jen Richards Fieldwork: Jen Richards & Beth Doyle Graphics: Jen Richards Approved by: Mike Kimber - i - Innovation Park Medway, Rochester Headland Archaeology MIPR CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Planning Background ............................................................................................. 2 1.2 Site Description ...................................................................................................... 2 1.1 Consultation ........................................................................................................... 3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ........................................................................................................ 3 METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Study areas............................................................................................................ 3 1.3 Data sources .......................................................................................................... 4 1.4 Identification of heritage assets ............................................................................. 4 1.5 Assessment of heritage significance and importance ............................................ 5 1.6 Potential for unknown heritage assets ................................................................... 5 RESULTS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HERITAGE ASSESSMENT ................................... 6 1.7 Overview of the historic environment ..................................................................... 6 1.8 Historic Map Regression ...................................................................................... 10 1.9 Aerial Photograph Analysis .................................................................................. 12 1.10 Assessment of heritage significance .................................................................... 12 PREDICTED IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT ....................................................................... 15 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................... 15 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................... 16 APPENDIX 1: CULTURAL HERITAGE ASSETS WITHIN THE STUDY AREA ..................... 17 APPENDIX 2: FIGURES........................................................................................................ 20 APPENDIX 3: HISTORIC ORDNANCE SURVEY MAPPING ................................................ 25 - ii - Innovation Park Medway, Rochester Headland Archaeology MIPR INNOVATION PARK MEDWAY, ROCHESTER ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT Headland Archaeology was commissioned on behalf of Medway Council and Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council to prepare an archaeological and heritage impact assessment to inform a masterplan for redevelopment at Rochester Airport. This assessment has found that development will impact on the sites of former WWII buildings and structures associated with the airport (a non-designated heritage asset of local importance) and that there is potential for development to impact on further currently unidentified remains of WWII date within the airport site. The impacts on the significance of the airfield itself will be minimised by retaining the former line of runway 16/34 as a green corridor within the masterplan. A landmark building at the north-western end of the runway park will draw the eye along the former flight path, creating visual interest and resulting in a neutral effect on the significance of the airfield. It is considered that there is a low probability of any archaeological remains pre-dating the 1930s construction of the airport to survive within the site. Although there is potential for evidence of Roman activity in the southeast of the site, close to the line of the Roman road which is now the A229, remains in this area are likely to have been disturbed by the construction of the war-time buildings. The assessment has also found that development of the site will result in visual changes within the setting of heritage assets in the wider area, including Fort Horsted Scheduled Monument. However these changes are not considered to reduce the contribution made by setting to the significance of this or any other asset. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Planning Background Medway Council (MC) and Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC) are preparing a masterplan for the development of approximately 18.36 hectares (ha) of land on the current site of Rochester Airport, for employment led development and supporting infrastructure. Headland Archaeology has been commissioned to prepare an archaeological assessment and heritage impact assessment to inform this masterplan and provide supporting information for decision making on future planning applications – either as a Local Development Order (LDO) or for individual applications from developers. This document comprises the baseline for this impact assessment. 1.2 Site Description The Proposed Development is located approximately 3.5km to the south of Chatham and Rochester, Kent, within close proximity to the M2 motorway. The site is centred approximately on National Grid Reference (NGR) 574450, 164400 with an approximate postcode of ME1 2XX. The Proposed Development is located across two administrative boundaries: Medway Council and Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council. The site is split into 2 separate areas, to the north and the south of the existing airfield site. Overall, the area is 18.36 hectares Northern Area: The Northern Area consists of two distinct parcels. The main parcel (Area 1) comprises the airfield occupied by part of runway 16/34, which is laid to well- maintained grass. The second parcel (Area 2) is currently occupied by BAE Systems. It is laid to concrete slabs as a car park area and secured by a palisade fence. Southern Area: The Southern Area also consists of two distinct parcels. - 2 - Medway Innovation Park, Rochester Headland Archaeology MIPR The eastern parcel, Area 3, has concrete remnants of structures that have previously been demolished on the site. Part of the site is currently being used as overflow parking for the Innovation Centre, to the north. Within Area 3 is a single storey brick structure and fenced compound. It is thought that both are related to utilities supplies within the site and the wider area. The western parcel, Area 4, is the site of the Woolmans Wood Caravan Park. The site is currently operational as a caravan park and has space for approximately 100 – 125 caravans. To the north of the northern area, the site is bounded by a complex of buildings occupied by BAE Systems. These comprise a mixture of industrial sheds and office accommodation, between one and five storeys in height. To the north-west is the Rochester Airport Industrial Estate with a variety of building types including offices and industrial. To the west is the Laker Road Industrial Estate comprising a variety of varying office and industrial/manufacturing uses. To the east is the retained Rochester Airport site that is currently the subject of planning application. To the north of the southern area, the site is bounded by the existing Innovation Centre owned by Medway Council. The site is bounded by the B2097 to the west and the A229 to the east. To the north-west is the retained Rochester Airport site and, to the south ,the site is bounded by existing residential developments. Medway Council owns the majority of the site with two leaseholders on the site, Rochester Airport Ltd (RAL) and BAE Systems. Although parcels 1, 2 and 3 are owned by Medway Council, a small area of the site falls within the boundary of Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council. Parcel 4, the site of Woolmans Wood Caravan Park to the south-west of Innovation Centre Medway, is privately owned. 1.1 Consultation The Historic Environment Team of Kent County Council, as advisors to Medway Council, were consulted via email in April 2018 regarding the scope of the archaeological assessment and heritage impact assessment. A 1km study area was agreed for gathering baseline information on the known heritage resource. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES The purpose of the assessment is to provide information to inform future planning decisions about the masterplan site. In line with Good Practice Advice in Planning Note 2 (Historic England 2015) the assessment “will determine, as far as is reasonably possible from existing records, the nature, extent and significance of the historic environment within a specified area, and the impact of the proposed development on the significance of the historic environment, or will identify the need for further evaluation to