WEST SOMERSET COUNCIL LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITY HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT ISSUES PAPER COMPILED IN APRIL 2014 DRAFT: FINAL Prepared by: Steve Membery and Tanya James Historic Environment Service Somerset County Council CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 1 2 Summary............................................................................................................... 1 2.1 Key Strategic Sites ................................................................................................ 1 2.1.1 Minehead/Alcombe Key Strategic Sites: LT1 and MD2 ......................................... 1 2.1.2 Williton Key Strategic Sites: WI2 ........................................................................... 2 2.1.3 Watchet Key Strategic Sites: LT1 & WA2 .............................................................. 2 2.2 National Policy ...................................................................................................... 2 2.2.1 Decision Making .................................................................................................... 3 3 Heritage and the historic environment in West Somerset (excluding Exmoor National Park) ....................................................................................................... 3 3.1 Facts and figures ................................................................................................... 3 3.1.1 Designated assets ................................................................................................. 3 3.1.2 Listed buildings ..................................................................................................... 3 3.1.3 Scheduled monuments.......................................................................................... 4 3.1.4 Historic Parks and Gardens.....................................................................................4 3.1.5 Conservation Areas ............................................................................................... 4 3.1.6 Areas of High Archaeological Potential ................................................................. 4 3.1.7 Historic Environment Record ................................................................................. 4 4 Historic environment in Minehead, Watchet and Williton ....................................... 4 4.1 Historic towns ........................................................................................................ 4 4.1.1 Minehead .............................................................................................................. 4 4.1.2 Watchet ................................................................................................................. 5 4.1.3 Williton .................................................................................................................. 6 5 HERITAGE AND THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT STATEMENT: KEY STRATEGIC SITES .............................................................................................. 6 5.1 Settings assessment methodology ........................................................................ 6 5.2 Minehead/Alcombe Key Strategic Sites: LT1 and MD2 ......................................... 6 5.2.1 Assessment of significance ................................................................................... 6 5.2.2 Exmoor National Park ........................................................................................... 6 5.2.3 St Michael’s Church & Higher Town Conservation Area (PRN 33769 & LB No. 391228) ................................................................................................................. 7 5.2.4 Whitegate Road Conservation Area ...................................................................... 8 5.2.5 Adjacent hamlets and other buildings .................................................................... 8 5.3 Assessment of setting ........................................................................................... 8 5.3.1 Step 1: Identify which heritage assets and their settings are affected .................... 9 5.3.2 Exmoor National Park ........................................................................................... 9 5.3.3 St Michael’s Church & Higher Town Conservation Area ........................................ 9 5.3.4 Whitegate Road Conservation Area ...................................................................... 9 5.3.5 Adjacent hamlets and other buildings .................................................................... 9 5.3.6 Step 2: Assess whether, how and to what degree these settings make a contribution to the significance of the heritage asset ........................................... 10 5.3.7 Exmoor National Park ......................................................................................... 10 5.3.8 St Michael’s Church and Higher Town Conservation Area .................................. 10 5.3.9 Whitegate Road Conservation Area .................................................................... 10 5.3.10 Adjacent hamlets and other buildings .................................................................. 10 5.3.11 Step 3: Assess the effects of the proposed development, whether beneficial or harmful, on that significance ................................................................................ 11 5.3.12 Exmoor National Park ......................................................................................... 11 5.3.13 St Michael’s Church and Higher Town Conservation Area .................................. 11 5.3.14 Whitegate Road Conservation Area .................................................................... 12 5.3.15 Adjacent hamlets and other buildings .................................................................. 12 5.3.16 Summary Table ................................................................................................... 12 5.3.17 Designated heritage assets excluded from this assessment ............................... 12 5.3.18 Step 4: Enhancement and mitigation ................................................................... 13 5.4 Archaeological assessment ................................................................................. 13 5.4.1 Archaeological requirements ............................................................................... 13 5.5 Williton Key Strategic Sites: WI2 ......................................................................... 13 5.5.1 Assessment of significance ................................................................................. 13 5.5.2 Battlegore barrow cemetery (PRN 35378/SM 1019032) ...................................... 13 5.5.3 Assessment of setting ......................................................................................... 14 5.5.4 Step 1: Identify which heritage assets and their settings are affected .................. 14 5.5.5 Step 2: Assess whether, how and to what degree these settings make a contribution to the significance of the heritage asset ........................................... 15 5.5.6 Step 3: Assess the effects of the proposed development, whether beneficial or harmful, on that significance ................................................................................ 15 5.5.7 Summary Table ................................................................................................... 15 5.5.8 Step 4: Enhancement and mitigation ................................................................... 16 5.6 Archaeological assessment ................................................................................. 16 5.6.1 Archaeological requirements ............................................................................... 16 5.7 Watchet Key Strategic Sites: LT1 & WA2 ............................................................ 16 5.7.1 Assessment of significance ................................................................................. 16 5.7.2 Daw’s Castle, Cleeve Hill (PRN 34164/SM 33712) .............................................. 16 5.7.3 St Decuman’s Church Precinct (PRNs 34169 & 30001/LB 264603) .................... 18 5.7.4 Parsonage Cottage and Farmhouse (PRN 30007/LB No. 264609) ..................... 18 5.7.5 Three limekilns on Cleeve Hill (PRN 16053 & 30009/LB No. 264614) ................. 19 5.7.6 Channel View Terrace (Nos. 40 to 55 West Street) ............................................. 19 5.7.7 Assessment of Setting......................................................................................... 19 5.7.8 Step 1: Identify which heritage assets and their settings are affected .................. 19 5.7.9 Daw’s Castle, Cleeve Hill .................................................................................... 19 5.7.10 St Decuman’s Church precinct ............................................................................ 20 5.7.11 Parsonage Cottage and Farmhouse (PRN 30007/LB No. 264609) ..................... 20 5.7.12 Three limekilns on Cleeve Hill ............................................................................. 20 5.7.13 Channel View Terrace ......................................................................................... 20 5.7.14 Step 2: Assess whether, how and to what degree these settings make a contribution to the significance of the heritage asset ........................................... 21 5.7.15 Daw’s Castle, Cleeve Hill 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