London Borough of Bexley Areas of High Archaeological Potential Review Project March 2014 Stabler Heritage 28 Beaconsfield Road London, N15 4SJ M: 07539 424 769 E: [email protected] Contents Introduction 1 Section 1 Planning policy context 2 Current Areas of High Archaeological Potential 6 Proposed Areas of High Archaeological Potential 7 Section 2 Proposed Areas of High Archaeological Potential – character assessments 11 Section 3 Current Areas of High Archaeological Potential proposed for deletion 63 Bibliography and acknowledgements 67 Appendix 1 – Maps of current Areas of High Archaeological Potential London Borough of Bexley Areas of High Archaeological Potential Review Project Stabler Heritage, March 2014 Introduction This assessment has been commissioned by the London Borough of Bexley in order to review the borough’s existing Areas of High Archaeological Potential (AHAPs). The existing AHAPs, as shown on Map 4.9 of the Bexley Core Strategy (adopted February 2012), are based on archaeological finds and data compiled in the 1980s and summarily reviewed in 1992 and 1996. Since then, a significant number of archaeological interventions have been undertaken throughout the borough, which have added greatly to the understanding of the history of the borough and the significance of its non-designated archaeological assets. It is now possible to re-visit the existing areas against this new data, and to prepare written descriptions of each AHAP, identifying their significance and suggesting research questions to be approached in future studies. Areas of High Archaeological Potential are intended to act as flags within the planning system, identifying areas were existing information indicates a greater potential for the discovery of archaeological remains over and above that of the general background expectation. This then enables the local planning authority and other interested parties to make informed decisions on changes to the historic environment and to manage these changes appropriately. Archaeological remains may exist outside of the designated AHAPs, and should be considered on an individual basis where necessary. AHAPs support and should be used in conjunction with statutorily designated heritage assets and other non-designated assets, such as Scheduled Ancient Monuments, registered parks and gardens and listed buildings, as well as the local list of historic buildings. Areas of High Archaeological Potential will continue to be revised and altered as more discoveries come to light and the history of the borough continues to be better understood, and should therefore be periodically reviewed. London Borough of Bexley Areas of High Archaeological Potential Review Project Page | 1 Stabler Heritage, March 2014 Section 1 Planning policy context National Planning Policy The Government adopted the National Planning Policy Framework (the NPPF) in March 2012, which sets out the overall objectives for planning strategy at a national level and how they are expected to be applied. The NPPF integrates planning strategy for all heritage assets, both below and above ground, and provides guidance on managing change to the historic environment as a whole, including buildings and structures, landscapes, archaeological sites and wrecks. The document makes clear that the significance of heritage assets and their settings, whether designated or not, needs to be considered within the planning process. The NPPF advocates an integrated approach using evidential, historical, aesthetic and communal values in order to ensure that planning decisions are based upon the nature, extent and significant of the heritage assets. Chapter 12 of the NPPF, ‘Conserving and enhancing the historic environment’ is the key section regarding heritage assets, and the borough’s archaeological policies should be developed in accordance with the guidance therein. However, a few paragraphs are particularly relevant for non-designated assets. 12 Conserving and enhancing the historic environment 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. 135 The effect of an application on the significance of a non- designated heritage asset should be taken into account in determining the application. In weighing applications that affect directly or indirectly non designated heritage assets, a balanced judgment will be required having regard to the scale of any harm or loss and the significance of the heritage asset. London Borough of Bexley Areas of High Archaeological Potential Review Project Page | 2 Stabler Heritage, March 2014 139 Non-designated heritage assets of archaeological interest that are demonstrably of equivalent significance to scheduled monuments, should be considered subject to the policies for designated heritage assets. 141 Local planning authorities should make information about the significance of the historic environment gathered as part of plan- making or development management publicly accessible. They should also require developers to record and advance understanding of the significance of any heritage assets to be lost (wholly or in part) in a manner proportionate to their importance and the impact, and to make this evidence (and any archive generated) publicly accessible. However, the ability to record evidence of our past should not be a factor in deciding whether such loss should be permitted Regional Planning Policy The Mayor of London’s London Plan: spatial development strategy for Greater London (July, 2011) is a strategic planning document which describes an integrated economic, social, environmental and transport framework for the development of London. Local plans are meant to work within this structure. Chapter 7, ‘London’s living spaces and places’ sets out a broad range of policy areas regarding how people live in and integrate with their environments. This includes heritage and the historic environment. Policy 7.8 is the key section when discussing Areas of High Archaeological Potential. Policy 7.8: Heritage assets and archaeology Strategic A London’s heritage assets and historic environment, including listed buildings, registered historic parks and gardens and other natural historic landscapes, conservation areas, Woorld Heritage Sites, registered battlefields, scheduled monuments, archaeological remains and memorials should be identified, so that the desirability of sustaining and enhancing their significance and of utilizing their positive role in place shaping can be taken into account. B Development should incorporate measures that identify, record, interpret, protect and, where appropriate, present the site’s archaeology. London Borough of Bexley Areas of High Archaeological Potential Review Project Page | 3 Stabler Heritage, March 2014 Planning decisions C Development should identify, value, conserve, restore, re-use and incorporate heritage assets, where appropriate. D Development affecting heritage assets and their settings should conserve their significance, by being sympathetic to their form, scale, materials and architectural detail. E New development should make provision for the protection of archaeological resources, landscapes and significant memorials. The physical assets should, where possible, be made available to the public on-site. Where the archaeological asset or memorial cannot be preserved or managed on-site, provision must be made for the investigation, understanding, recording, dissemination and archiving of that asset. Local Development Framework (LDF) preparation F Boroughs should, in LDF policies, seek to maintain and enhance the contribution of built, landscaped and buried heritage to London’s environmental quality, cultural identity and economy as part of managing London’s ability to accommodate change and regeneration. G Boroughs, in consultation with English Heritage, Natural England and other relevant statutory organisations, should include appropriate policies in their LDFs for indentifying, protecting, enhancing and improving access to the historic environment and heritage assets and their settings where appropriate, and to archaeological assets, memorials and historic and natural landscape character within their area. Local planning policy Local Planning Authorities are obliged by the government to articulate their future planning and policy objectives in a portfolio of strategic planning documents, the Local Development Framework (LDF). Within each LDF, the primary document is the Core Strategy, which sets out long-term visions for the planning authority and how these are to be achieved, in the form of policy guidance. The Core Strategy, in turn, is supported by a suite of supporting documents and evidence based reports, including detailed policies and sites local plans. The Bexley Core Strategy was formally adopted on 22nd February 2012. The