Archaeology Desk Based Assessment GW Heritage April 2021 ARCHAEOLOGICAL DESK-BASED ASSESSMENT Oxford Brookes University Clive Booth Student Village Prepared by GWHeritage on behalf of Oxford Brookes University 15-04-2021 Esther Robinson-Wild, Hannah Sims and Prepared by: Gerald Wait Approved by: Gerald Wait Date: 24-03-2021 Final Issue 15-04-2021 Revised red line boundary 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.0.1 Oxford Brookes University has commissioned GWHeritage to prepare an Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment as a Technical Annexe for the Environmental Statement for an area of land off Marston Road – the Clive Booth Student Village of Oxford Brookes University (hereafter the ‘Site’ see Figure 1). The Assessment has been commissioned to accompany a planning application for a proposed student accommodation and associated access and landscaping at the Site. The Assessment is only concerned with buried archaeological remains – issues of listed buildings and conservation areas – the built assets of the historic environment – are considered in ES chapter 5. 1.0.2 The Site, consists of a series of student accommodation blocks – the existing layout is shown in Figure 2 below. 1.0.3 The aim of this assessment is to determine, in so far as is reasonable by desk-based research, and a site visit, the presence or absence of archaeological assets and the character, survival and state of preservation of such assets on and near the Site. 1.0.4 The assessment comprises an examination of data obtained from the Oxford Historic Environment Record (OHER), Oxford Archives and Records Service, and other source repositories as appropriate, and incorporates other available published and unpublished data obtained from web-based sources including the Archaeological Gateway, PastScape and Historic England’s National Archaeological List for England (‘NHLE’) databases. A Site visit was conducted on the 22 August 2017 in dry, bright conditions with good light quality under overcast skies. The OHER was originally acquired in 2017 and a second complete search was done in January 2021. 1.0.5 The Assessment Area was drawn up to include an initial review of known archaeological assets, both designated and non-designated, within the Site and a 500m radius of its deemed centre at NGR: SP529067. Based on the research undertaken for the assessment, this report highlights any potential direct and indirect impacts to any archaeological assets and provides options for appropriate measures for the treatment of known or suspected archaeological assets within the framework of the planning process. This report has been prepared in accordance with The Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, Standard and Guidance for Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment (2017) excepting that only buried archaeological assets are considered. 1.0.6 There are no registered World Archaeological Sites, Scheduled Monuments, Registered Parks and Gardens or Registered Battlefields wholly or partly within the Site or the 500m radius Assessment Area established for the purposes of this report. There are no Listed Buildings within the Site. The Site does contain a record of an archaeological investigation by OA (2001) which revealed a 19th century farm structure, and within the Assessment Area there are 4 other archaeological investigations which produced no significant results and one which produced Roman ceramics (possible amphora support rings?). The walk-over survey did not reveal anything of archaeological note, but did confirm that the existing Clive Booth Student Village would, during its construction, have involved very extensive ground works likely to have disturbed, if not entirely destroyed any archaeological remains that may have been present. 1.0.7 Due to the separation distance, the intervening landform and the characteristics of the built environment the proposed development on the Site would not lead to any direct or indirect impact on the designated archaeological assets or their settings. 1.0.8 GWHeritage reserves the right to amend, add or remove any elements of this document to respond to the publication of any new evidence, policy, guidance, etc. after the submission of the planning application. 2.0 LEGISLATIVE AND PLANNING POLICY BACKGROUND 2.1 National Planning Policy Framework 2.0.2 The place of heritage assets (such as non-designated archaeological sites and scheduled monuments) within the planning system is governed by Section 16 (‘Conserving and enhancing the historic environment’) of the National Planning Policy Framework (the ‘NPPF’) (2012, Revised 2018, Updated 2019). In the discussion below policy clauses not directly relevant to the proposals under consideration, e.g. pertaining to designated assets, have been omitted. 2.0.3 The NPPF sets out land-use planning principles which should underpin both plan-making and decision-taking. Central to the NPPF is a presumption in favour of sustainable development. At a very high level, the objective of sustainable development can be summarised as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Achieving sustainable development means that the planning system has three interdependent overarching objectives, these being economic, social and environmental. In determining planning applications, local planning authorities are required to take account of viability, design, well-being and the protection and enhancement of the historic environment, amongst others. This should allow for any proposals to be considered in the context of the overarching objectives which lead to the achievement of sustainable development. 2.0.4 Section 16 ‘Conserving and enhancing the historic environment’ sets out the policies relating to conserving and enhancing the historic environment. It directs that heritage assets are conserved in a manner appropriate to their significance so that they can be enjoyed for their contribution to the quality of life of existing and future generations. 2.0.5 The NPPF defines ‘Heritage Assets’ 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.” 2.0.6 The definition extends to both designated heritage assets and non-designated heritage assets, the latter being those which are identified by a local planning authority as having local interest, and sometimes recorded as being of such through local listing. 2.0.7 Non-designated heritage assets are more specifically dealt with under the Planning Practice Guidance (‘PPG’) (2019), a supplementary guidance document to the NPPF in which it states, “These are buildings, monuments, sites, places, areas or landscapes identified as having a degree of significance meriting consideration in planning decisions, but which are not formally designated heritage assets. In some areas, local authorities identify some non-designated heritage assets as ‘locally listed’.” The PPG contains a section on the historic environment that provides advice on enhancing and conserving the historic environment, and viable uses for heritage assets; sets out the approach to assessing harm to heritage assets; and details what is meant by the term public benefits in the context of development, amongst others. 2.0.8 The following paragraphs from Section 16 of the NPPF are particularly relevant and are quoted in full: Paragraph 189. “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.” Paragraph 190. “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.” Paragraph 192. “In determining applications, local planning authorities should take account of: a) the desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of heritage assets and putting them to viable uses consistent with their conservation; b) the positive contribution that conservation of heritage assets can make to sustainable communities including their economic vitality; and c) the desirability of new development making a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness.” 2.0.9 In considering any planning application for development, the local planning authority must have regard to the national policy framework detailed in the NPPF and other material considerations. 2.0.10 With respect to local policy, the Adopted Oxford Local Plan 2036 (adopted June 2020) is the statutory document against