SDO11529 - Land East of Shaftesbury. Archaeological and Cultural Heritage.

The archaeological and cultural heritage assessment is based on a comprehensive review of the recorded archaeological and historical evidence for the proposed development site and its surrounding margins. Information has been collected or viewed in the form of records of known archaeological monuments, sites and findshpots, historic (including listed) buildings and structures, early mapping and historical documents, and air photographs of the site. The principal sources have been the Dorset and Wiltshire County Sites and Monuments Records, the Dorset Record Office and the Wiltshire and Swindon Record Office, and the National Library of Air Photographs at the National Monuments Record. A site walkover has also been conducted. Very few sites or findspots are known; within the development area isolated prehistoric worked flints were recovered from observation of water pipe laying in 1991, and early mapping shows the location of a group of 19th-century barns. Consideration of these sites against established criteria for assessing sites of possible national importance indicates them to be of local importance only, with very limited further archaeological potential. Immediately beyond the boundaries of the development site, gravedigging in the Mampitts Road cemetery in the late 1940s and early 1950s revealed two pits containing pottery of Neolithic or Early Bronze Age date, presumed to be evidence for a small settlement dating to c 2000 BC. Such sites are regarded as of more than local importance. There is at present no evidence to suggest that the site extends as far as the present development boundaries. Elsewhere in the general area there are a number of Grade II listed buildings, but these are separated from the development eigher by the main A30 or A350 routes, or other areas of post-War housing (or both) such that there will be no identifiable impact on their setting. A majority of the existing field boundaries within the development area are show on the parish tithe maps of 1841 and 1845, and by virtue of their age therefore satisfy the criteria for consideration as historically important as defined by the Hedgerow Regulations 1997. Mitigation measures will be undertaken where development would constitute a high level of adverse impact on archaeological or cultural heritage features of more than local importance or low value. Further investigation of the area around the Mampitts Road cemetery is proposed to determine whether features relating to the prehistoric settlement extend into the present development. Should this prove to be the case, a strategy for mitigation will be developed to satisfy the requirements of the Dorset County Senior Archaeologist, acting as advisor to the local plannig authority. The masterplan design has taken account of the historically important hedgerows, the major elements of which will be maintained as boundaries within the new development so that the pre-existing field pattern will remain recognisable within the layout. It is not possible to exclude the possibility that hitherto unknown and unpredicted archaeological deposits may be encountered during development. A limited programme of archaeological observation during construction will ensure that an appropriate level of investigation and recording of any unexpected findings can be achieved. Non-technical summary reproduced from the report.