T H A M E S V A L L E Y ARCHAEOLOGICAL S E R V I C E S The Stonehenge School, Antrobus Road, Amesbury, Wiltshire Archaeological Desk-based Assessment by Gordana Baljkas Site Code: SSA17/121 (SU 1590 4164) The Stonehenge School, Antrobus Road, Amesbury, Wiltshire Archaeological Desk-based Assessment for Wiltshire Council by Gordana Baljkas Thames Valley Archaeological Services Ltd Site Code SSA 17/121 July 2017 Summary Site name: The Stonehenge School, Antrobus Road, Amesbury, Wiltshire Grid reference: SU 1590 4164 Site activity: Archaeological desk-based assessment Project manager: Steve Ford Site supervisor: Gordana Baljkas Site code: SSA 17/121 Summary of results: There are no known heritage assets on the proposal site. Two 20th century Grade II listed buildings, however, border the proposal site to the east. While the existing hedgerow would significantly limit the visual impact of the proposed development on the listed buildings, it would, nonetheless, have to be sympathetic to their character. The study area contained significant evidence for activity of all periods and a Roman coin was found immediately to the east of the proposal site. The area of the proposal site where the new school building is to be constructed was never developed and has only ever been used agriculturally and as a sports field which would not have caused significant disturbance below the topsoil level so that any below-ground archaeological deposits and finds that might have been present should have survived reasonably intact. It is considered that further information from field observation may be required to establish the archaeological potential of the proposal site. This could be achieved by an appropriately worded condition to any consent gained. 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 All TVAS unpublished fieldwork reports are available on our website: www.tvas.co.uk/reports/reports.asp.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 19.07.17 Steve Preston 19.07.17 2Thames 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 The Stonehenge School, Antrobus Road, Amesbury, Wiltshire Archaeological Desk-based Assessment by Gordana Baljkas Report 17/121 Introduction This report is an assessment of the archaeological potential of land at The Stonehenge School, Antrobus Road, Amesbury, Wiltshire SP4 7ND (Fig. 1). The project was commissioned by Ms Suzanne Gough of Wiltshire Council, County Hall, Bythesea Road, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 8JN 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. Planning consent is to be sought from Wiltshire Council for development of land at The Stonehenge School, Antrobus Road, Amesbury, Wiltshire. This assessment will accompany the application in order to inform the planning process with regard to potential archaeological and heritage implications. This is in accordance with the Department for Communities and Local Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF 2012) and the Council’s heritage policies. Site description, location and geology The proposal site is located towards the northern extent of the town of Amesbury, south Wiltshire, approximately 12km north of Salisbury. It comprises an irregular parcel of land covering an area of c. 5ha and is centred on NGR SU 1590 4164 (Fig. 1). The proposal site is bounded by properties fronting Cold Harbour and The Drove to the north, properties on Holders Road to the east, a pedestrian and vehicular access road (which can be accessed from Antrobus and Holders roads) to the south and properties on Cold Harbour and Antrobus Road to the west. A site visit conducted on 4th July 2017 showed that the proposal site is currently occupied by the buildings, sports grounds and other facilities of The Stonehenge School. Two areas within the school complex are to be subject to the proposed development: a grassed playing field located at the north-eastern extent of the school complex (Fig. 2, Pls 1-3) and sports pitch located at the north-western corner. The proposal site lies on Valley Gravels (BGS 1976) at a height of approximately 70m above Ordnance Datum in the west rising to approximately 80m above Ordnance Datum in the east. 3 Planning background and development proposals Planning permission is to be sought from Wiltshire Council to construct a new school building in the north- eastern section of the school complex and resurfacing of the existing sports pitch in the north-western corner of the complex (Fig. 21). 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: ‘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 4 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 sites, battlefields, grade I and II* listed buildings, grade I and II* registered parks and gardens, and World Heritage Sites, should be wholly exceptional. ‘133. Where a proposed development will lead to substantial harm to or total loss of significance of a designated heritage asset, local planning authorities