AECOM Island Gas Ltd – Springs Road Exploratory Wellsite 1 1 Introduction 1.1 Context This Appendix comprises a Cultural Heritage Assessment which considers heritage issues associated with the Proposed Development at Springs Road, Misson, Nottinghamshire. Please note, this Appendix must be read in conjunction with the Main Text of the Environmental Statement (ES) which contains: a detailed description of the Proposed Development; Figures showing the development; and a summary of other assessments undertaken in relation to the Proposed Development which may be relevant. A full description of the Proposed Development is given in Chapter 4 of the ES. 1.2 Scope and Methodology 1.2.1 Study Area For the designated assets (listed buildings, scheduled monuments, world heritage sites, conservation areas, registered parks and gardens, registered battlefields), a search area of 5 km was used. A search area of 5 km ensures that designated assets are identified to a sufficient distance to anticipate or identify any likely setting impacts. For non- designated assets (archaeological sites, findspots, locally listed buildings), an initial search area of 1 km was used to obtain data from the Nottinghamshire Historic Environment Record (HER) and the Historic England Archive (HEA). The reference numbers are stated in the text in bold and shown on Figures K1 and K2. 1.2.2 Sources The designated heritage assets within this assessment are identified with their National Heritage List number. The non- designated heritage assets are identified with their Nottinghamshire Historic Environment Record number. All heritage assets are referenced in bold and tabulated in Annex K1. 1.2.3 Consultation AECOM has consulted with both Historic England and Nottinghamshire County Council’s archaeologist in preparing this assessment. 1.2.4 Assessment Criteria The significance (heritage value) of a heritage asset is derived from its heritage interest which may be archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic (NPPF Annex 2, Glossary). The significance of a place is defined by the sum of its heritage values. English Heritage identify these as being evidential, historical, aesthetic and communal (Conservation principles, English Heritage 2008, 27-32). The setting of an asset can also contribute to significance. Taking these criteria into account, each identified heritage asset can be assigned a level of significance (heritage value) in accordance with a four-point scale as set in Table 1.1. Appendix K: Cultural Heritage Assessment July 2015 AECOM Island Gas Ltd – Springs Road Exploratory Wellsite 2 Table 1.1: Criteria for determining the significance (heritage value) of heritage assets Significance (Heritage Value) Criteria High Assets of inscribed international importance, such as World Heritage Sites, Grade I and II* listed buildings, Grade I and II* Registered Historic Parks and Gardens, Registered Battlefields, Scheduled Monuments, Non-designated archaeological assets of schedulable quality and importance. Medium Grade II listed buildings, Grade II listed Registered Historic Parks and Gardens, Conservation Areas, Locally listed buildings included on an approved local list Non-designated heritage assets of a regional resource value as identified through consultation. Low Non-designated heritage assets of a local resource value as identified through consultation, Non-designated heritage assets whose heritage values are compromised by poor preservation or damaged so that too little remains to justify inclusion into a higher grade Having identified the significance of the heritage asset, the next stage in the assessment is to identify the level and degree of impact to an asset arising from the development. Impacts may arise during construction or operation and can be temporary or permanent. Impacts can occur to the physical fabric of the asset or affect its setting. The level and degree of impact (impact rating) is assigned with reference to a five-point scale as set out in Table 1.2. Table 1.2: Criteria for determining level and degree of impact (impact rating) on heritage assets Impact Rating Description of Impact High Change such that the significance of the asset is totally altered or destroyed. Comprehensive change to setting affecting significance, resulting in a serious loss in our ability to understand and appreciate the resource and its historical context and setting. Medium Change such that the significance of the asset is affected. Noticeably different change to setting affecting significance, resulting in erosion in our ability to understand and appreciate the resource and its historical context and setting. Low Change such that the significance of the asset is slightly affected. Slight change to setting affecting significance resulting in a change in our ability to understand and appreciate the resource and its historical context and setting. Minimal Changes to the asset that hardly affect significance. Minimal change to the setting of an asset that have little effect on significance resulting in no real change in our ability to understand and appreciate the resource and its historical context and setting. In respect of cultural heritage an assessment of the level and degree of impact is made in consideration of any scheme design mitigation (embedded mitigation) or additional mitigation proposed during design development, for example landscaping, which themselves can be a source of impact. An assessment of the level of significant residual effects, having taken into consideration mitigation, is determined by cross-referencing between the significance (heritage value) of the asset (Table 1.1) and the impact rating (Table 1.2). The resultant level of significant effect of the scheme on each heritage asset (Table 1.3) can be negligible, adverse or beneficial. Appendix K: Cultural Heritage Assessment July 2015 AECOM Island Gas Ltd – Springs Road Exploratory Wellsite 3 Table 1.3: Criteria for determining the level of significant effect Impact Rating Significance High Medium Low Minimal High Major Major/ Moderate Moderate Minor Medium Major Moderate Minor Minor Low Moderate/ Minor Minor Minor Negligible Effects of major or moderate significance are considered to be significant and are therefore reported within the ES. In instances within the matrix where there is a transition between levels of significant effect, the actual reported level of significant effect is a matter of professional judgement. This has considered the heritage value of the asset and the degree to which the level of impact will affect heritage significance. Within the NPPF, impacts affecting the significance of heritage assets are considered in terms of harm and there is a requirement to determine whether the level of harm amounts to ‘substantial harm’ or ‘less than substantial harm’ [Paragraph 132 -135 NPPF, 2012]. The on-line Planning Practice Guidance assists in determining whether works constitute substantial harm, and the guidance is that for harm to be substantial the impact needs to go ‘to the heart of why the place is worthy of designation’. The ES reports on the significance of effect and there is no direct correlation between the significance of effect and the level of harm caused to heritage significance. A major significant effect on a heritage asset would, however, more often be the basis by which to determine that the level of harm to the significance of the asset would be substantial. A moderate significant effect is unlikely to meet the test of substantial harm and would therefore more often be the basis by which to determine that the level of harm to the significance of the asset would be less than substantial. In all cases determining the level of harm to the significance of the asset arising from development impact is one of professional judgement. Appendix K: Cultural Heritage Assessment July 2015 AECOM Island Gas Ltd – Springs Road Exploratory Wellsite 4 2 Legislation and Planning Policy 2.1 Legislation The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 imposes a duty on the Secretary of State to compile lists of buildings of special architectural or historic interest. In consideration of proposals within the setting of Listed Buildings, the 1990 Act establishes a requirement to have special regard to the desirability of preserving that setting (Section 66 (1)): “In considering whether to grant planning permission for development which affects a listed building or its setting, the local planning authority or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State shall have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses”. Section 72 of the 1990 Act establishes a desirability to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of a conservation area. A conservation area is an area of local interest designated principally by the Local Planning Authority. The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 is the central piece of legislation which protects the archaeological resource. The first section of the Act requires the Secretary of State for National Heritage to maintain a schedule of nationally important sites. For the purposes of the Act, a monument is defined as: “a) any building, structure or work, whether above or below the surface of the land, and any cave or excavation; b) any site comprising the remains of any such building, structure or work or of any cave or excavation; and c) any site comprising, or comprising the remains