A Setting Study for the Great Oak Coal Prospect, Bignall End, Staffordshire
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A Setting Study for the Great Oak Coal Prospect, Bignall End, Staffordshire January 2014 ARS Ltd Report no. 2014/13 A Setting Study for the Proposed Great Oak Coal Prospect, Staffordshire A Setting Study for the Proposed Great Oak Coal Prospect, Staffordshire Archaeological Research Services Ltd Report 2014/13 January 2014 © Archaeological Research Services Ltd 2014 Angel House, Portland Square, Bakewell, DE45 1HB www.archaeologyresearchservices.com Prepared on behalf of: Heaton Planning, for UK Coal Date of compilation: March 2013 (amended January 2014) Compiled by: Antony Brown MIfA Checked by: Dr. Clive Waddington MIfA Planning Reference: N/A Local Authority: Staffordshire County Council A Setting Study for the Great Oak Coal Prospect, Bignall End, Staffordshire TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Project Background...........................................................................................................................................1 1.2 Location and Land-Use......................................................................................................................................2 2 POLICY AND GUIDANCE .......................................................................................................................................... 3 2.1 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)..............................................................................................3 2.2 PPS5 Planning for the Historic Environment: Historic Environment Planning Practice Guide ..........................4 2.3 The Setting of Heritage Assets: English Heritage Guidance (2011)...................................................................6 3 METHODOLOGY...................................................................................................................................................... 8 3.1 Study Area.........................................................................................................................................................8 3.2 ZTV ....................................................................................................................................................................9 3.3 Scheme of work ................................................................................................................................................9 3.3.1 Step 1: Identifying the heritage assets affected and their settings. ...........................................................9 3.3.2 Step 2: Assessing whether, how, and to what degree these settings make a contribution to the significance of the heritage asset(s) .........................................................................................................10 3.3.3 Step 3: Assessing the effect of the proposed development on the significance of the asset(s)...............10 3.3.4 Step 4: Maximising enhancement and minimising harm..........................................................................10 3.3.5 Step 5: Making and documenting the decision and monitoring outcomes ..............................................10 4 SETTING STUDY......................................................................................................................................................11 4.1 Assessment Step 1 ..........................................................................................................................................11 4.1.1 Baseline data collation..............................................................................................................................11 4.1.2 Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV)...........................................................................................................11 4.1.3 Site visits...................................................................................................................................................11 4.2 Assessment Steps 2 & 3 ..................................................................................................................................12 4.2.1 The Wedgewood Monument (NHLE no. 1374392) – LB3 .........................................................................12 4.2.2 The Castle, Mow Cop (NHLE no.1162028)................................................................................................12 4.2.3 Sir Bernard Lovell Telescope, Joddrell Bank (NHLE no.1038613)..............................................................13 4.2.4 Church of St. James, Audley (NHLE no.1038613)......................................................................................13 4.2.5 Castle Hill Motte, Audley (NHLE no.1011071) ..........................................................................................14 4.2.6 Hullock’s Pool Farmhouse (NHLE no.1374409) – LB1 ...............................................................................14 4.2.7 Mile Post at Grid Reference SK 805 510 – LB2..........................................................................................15 4.2.8 Harecastle Farmhouse (NHLE no.1374407) – LB4.....................................................................................15 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS.....................................................................................................................................15 5 STATEMENTS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................................................................................................16 5.1 Publicity, Confidentiality and Copyright..........................................................................................................16 5.2 Statement of Indemnity..................................................................................................................................16 5.3 Acknowledgements.........................................................................................................................................16 Page | i A Setting Study for the Great Oak Coal Prospect, Bignall End, Staffordshire 6 REFERENCES...........................................................................................................................................................17 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Assessing the contribution of setting to significance ...................................................................................6 Table 2: Assessing the effect of the development .....................................................................................................7 LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix 1: Gazetteer of Designated Assets ...........................................................................................................18 Appendix 2: Figures..................................................................................................................................................30 Page | ii A Setting Study for the Great Oak Coal Prospect, Bignall End, Staffordshire 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Project Background UK Coal is to submit a planning application for a Surface Mine Scheme known as Great Oak, which is located to the east of Junction 16 of the M6, close to the villages of Audley and Bignall End (Fig. 1). The closest major town to the site is Newcastle under Lyme, c. 4 miles to the south. The Mineral Planning Authority (MPA) is Staffordshire County Council. A Scoping Opinion was received by Heaton Planning, dated 8 th February 2013 regarding the required scope and content of the Environmental Statement (ES) that should accompany the planning application for the scheme. Staffordshire County Council’s Environmental Advice Team (Cultural / Historic Environment Officers) commented as follows: 1. The Scoping Report (Section 7.5) correctly identifies the need to undertake an archaeological Desk-Based Assessment (DBA). This work should be undertaken in line with the Institute for Archaeologists Standards and Guidance for Archaeological Desk-Based Assessments (revised 2008). 2. The DBA should include information derived from the rapid reconnaissance and walkover survey and the geo-archaeological study referred to in the Scoping Report (Sections 7.5.3 and 7.5.4). 3. The DBA should also incorporate an assessment of the historic landscape character for the impacted area and the surrounding environment to determine landscape sensitivity, assess the historic significance of all hedgerows impacted as identified in the Hedgerow Regulations (1997) and develop recommendations for appropriate archaeological mitigation. English Heritage (EH) has commented as follows: 4. The development could, potentially, have an impact upon the following designated heritage assets and their settings: I. The Wedgwood Monument, Red Street, Audley Rural (grade II) II. The Castle, Mow Cop (grade II) III. Sir Bernard Lovell Telescope, Jodrell Bank Laboratory, Goostrey (grade I) 5. The ES should contain a thorough assessment of the likely effects which the proposed development might have upon those elements which contribute to the significance of these assets. 6. Section drawings and techniques such as photomontages should be used as part of the assessment. 7. The potential impact of associated activities (such as construction, servicing and maintenance, and traffic) which might have an impact upon perceptions, Page | 1 A Setting Study for the Great Oak Coal Prospect, Bignall End, Staffordshire understanding and appreciation of the heritage