T H A M E S V A L L E Y ARCHAEOLOGICAL S E R V I C E S Land at Littleworth Road, Benson, Oxfordshire Archaeological Desk-based Assessment by Steve Preston Site Code LRB15/210 (SU 615 922) Land off Littleworth Road, Benson, Oxfordshire Archaeological Desk-based Assessment for R J and S Styles Ltd by Steve Preston Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd Site Code LRB 15/210 October 2015 Summary Site name: Land at Littleworth Road, Benson, Oxfordshire Grid reference: SU 615 922 Site activity: Archaeological desk-based assessment Project manager: Steve Ford Site supervisor: Steve Preston Site code: LRB15/210 Area of site: c. 25 ha Summary of results: The site lies in an area of generally high archaeological potential for almost all periods. Evaluation trenching across part of the area revealed a large number of features of archaeological interest, primarily ditches likely to represent land division, most of which, however could not be dated. Finds spanning periods from the Neolithic to the Post- medieval were recovered (although, surprisingly nothing from the Medieval period). The features revealed would appear to be typical of rural settings across southern England, with no indication of heritage assets of national significance being present. While it is possible to suggest that similar results should be expected across the rest of the site, this extrapolation cannot be pursued in detail. It is considered therefore that it will be necessary to provide further information about the detailed archaeological potential across the remainder of the area through field observations, in order to draw up a mitigation strategy as appropriate. An appropriate mitigation strategy for the area already evaluated would be excavation and recording to ensure preservation by record of the archaeological resource present there. This report may be copied for bona fide research or planning purposes without the explicit permission of the copyright holder. All TVAS unpublished fieldwork reports are available on our website: www.tvas.co.uk/reports/reports.asp. Report edited/checked by: Steve Ford 14.10.15 i Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd, 47–49 De Beauvoir Road, Reading RG1 5NR Tel. (0118) 926 0552; Fax (0118) 926 0553; email: [email protected]; website: www.tvas.co.uk Land at Littleworth Road, Benson, Oxfordshire Archaeological Desk-based Assessment by Steve Preston Report 15/210 Introduction This report is an assessment of the archaeological potential of a large parcel of land located north of Littleworth Road, Benson, Oxfordshire (SU 615 922) (Fig. 1). The project was commissioned by Ms Amanda Jacobs, of West Waddy ADP LLP, The Malthouse, 60 East St Helen Street, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 5EB on behalf of R J and S Styles Ltd, ‘Loretto’, Lower Way, Ewelme, OX10 8HB and comprises the first stage of a process to determine the presence/absence, extent, character, quality and date of any archaeological remains which may be affected by redevelopment of the area. An application is to be made to South Oxfordshire District Council for residential development on the site. The application will seek approval for up to 400 dwellings with detailed permission being sought for access and all other matters reserved. Part of the site gained planning permission (P14/S0673/FUL) at Appeal on 2 June 2015 for the erection of 159 dwellings with associated access, open space and landscaping, parking and car share facilities. The fresh application for outline planning would envisage the erection of 348 dwellings with associated access, open space and landscaping, associated parking and car share facilities, providing an appropriate mix of housing tenure, as established within the extant planning permission. This assessment will accompany the application in order to inform the planning process with regard to potential archaeological implications of the proposal. Site description, location and geology Benson is located on the north bank of the river Thames opposite Wallingford in south Oxfordshire (Fig. 1). The site currently consists of a large arable field, some 25ha in extent (Pls 1–4), with a trackway crossing it diagonally, flanked by a couple of small buildings (sheds) (Fig. 2). The development area is centred on NGR SU 615 922 on the northern outskirts of Benson and straddles both 1st (flood plain) and 2nd (Summertown-Radley) river terrace gravels (BGS 1980). It is reasonably flat, at a height of 50m above Ordnance Datum. The south and west boundaries are formed by Littleworth Road, most of the east side is bounded by properties along Sunnyside, while the north and north-east looks out onto more open fields. The Thames flows east and then south, some 200m south-west of the site’s south-western corner. 1 Planning background and development proposals Planning permission is to be sought for residential development on the site. No detailed proposals have been drawn up and it is intended that the illustrative masterplan will be capable of being influenced by any findings related to the archaeological heritage resource of the site as appropriate. The Department for Communities and Local Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF 2012) sets out the framework within which local planning authorities should consider the importance of conserving, or enhancing, aspects of the historic environment, within the planning process. It requires an applicant for planning consent to provide, as part of any application, sufficient information to enable the local planning authority to assess the significance of any heritage assets that may be affected by the proposal. The Historic Environment is defined (NPPF 2012, 52) as: ‘All aspects of the environment resulting from the interaction between people and places through time, including all surviving physical remains of past human activity, whether visible, buried or submerged, and landscaped and planted or managed flora.’ Paragraphs 128 and 129 state that ‘128. In determining applications, local planning authorities should require an applicant to describe the significance of any heritage assets affected, including any contribution made by their setting. The level of detail should be proportionate to the assets’ importance and no more than is sufficient to understand the potential impact of the proposal on their significance. As a minimum the relevant historic environment record should have been consulted and the heritage assets assessed using appropriate expertise where necessary. Where a site on which development is proposed includes or has the potential to include heritage assets with archaeological interest, local planning authorities should require developers to submit an appropriate desk-based assessment and, where necessary, a field evaluation. ‘129. Local planning authorities should identify and assess the particular significance of any heritage asset that may be affected by a proposal (including by development affecting the setting of a heritage asset) taking account of the available evidence and any necessary expertise. They should take this assessment into account when considering the impact of a proposal on a heritage asset, to avoid or minimise conflict between the heritage asset’s conservation and any aspect of the proposal.’ A ‘heritage asset’ is defined (NPPF 2012, 52) as ‘A building, monument, site, place, area or landscape identified as having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions, because of its heritage interest. Heritage asset includes designated heritage assets and assets identified by the local planning authority (including local listing).’ ‘Designated heritage asset’ includes (NPPF 2012, 51) any ‘World Heritage Site, Scheduled Monument, Listed Building, Protected Wreck Site, Registered Park and Garden, Registered Battlefield or Conservation Area designated under the relevant legislation.’ ‘Archaeological interest’ is glossed (NPPF 2012, 50) as follows: 2 ‘There will be archaeological interest in a heritage asset if it holds, or potentially may hold, evidence of past human activity worthy of expert investigation at some point. Heritage assets with archaeological interest are the primary source of evidence about the substance and evolution of places, and of the people and cultures that made them.’ Specific guidance on assessing significance and the impact of the proposal is contained in paragraphs 131 to 135: ‘131. In determining planning applications, local planning authorities should take account of: the desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of heritage assets and putting them to viable uses consistent with their conservation; the positive contribution that conservation of heritage assets can make to sustainable communities including their economic vitality; and the desirability of new development making a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness. ‘132. When considering the impact of a proposed development on the significance of a designated heritage asset, great weight should be given to the asset’s conservation. The more important the asset, the greater the weight should be. Significance can be harmed or lost through alteration or destruction of the heritage asset or development within its setting. As heritage assets are irreplaceable, any harm or loss should require clear and convincing justification. Substantial harm to or loss of a grade II listed building, park or garden should be exceptional. Substantial harm to or loss of designated heritage assets of the highest significance, notably scheduled monuments, protected wreck