SDO12532 - Park Farm, Iwerne Minster, Dorset: Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment for Low Carbon Solar.

In January 2011 Cotswold Archaeology was commissioned by Low Carbon Solar to carry out a Desk- based assessment of land at Park Farm, Iwerne Minster, Dorset. The objective of the assessment was to identify the nature and extent of the heritage assets within both the site and its immediate environs. The only statutory (or non-statutory) designated heritage asset in the study area is the Scheduled Monument of Iwerne villa, which lies over 300m east of the proposed development site. The heritage asset is scheduled due to its archaeological and historic interest, which is embodied in its physical remains and its setting. The proposed development site does not lie within the setting of the scheduled monument. There are no known (non-designated) heritage assets in the wider study area mainly associated with the later pre-historic and Roman period settlement and agricultural activity. The proposed development site appears to have been an agricultural field used as pasture since at least the late 18th century, and has lain in the hinterland of the local settlements throughout prehistory and history. Therefore the evidence suggest that as yet unrecorded, important and extensive buried archaeological remain are unlikely to be present within the proposed development site. The proposed development site is on flat land with views to the south toward Hambledon Hill, an outliner of the Cranborne Chase Chalk to the east. All of the other boundaries have high dense hedgerows which limit their close views. The proposed development would not adversely affect the significances of any known heritage asset. Therefore, it is the conclusion of this assessment that the proposed development would not conflict with national or local policy regarding the safeguarding of heritage assets. Furthermore, and based on current evidence, there are no constraints pertaining to heritage assets that would preclude the proposed development.