SWX8592 - Osprey Quay, Portland, Dorset: Archaeological Impact Assessment.

This assessment has been commissioned by White Young Green on behalf of their client South West of England Regional Development Agency. An archaeological assessment of the Site was prepared by CPM (1999). On the basis of this Steven Wallis, Senior Archaeologist, Dorset County Council, has indicated the need for further archaeological evaluation of the site. As a first stage, it has been agreed to produce an assessment of the likely archaeological impact of the proposed development. Full details of the development proposals were not available at the time of the earlier archaeological assessment. This report aims to assess the archaeological potential of the deposits of the site and, on the basis of this, to assess the likely archaeological impact of the proposed development. This information may then be used to determine an appropriate programme of archaeological works for the site. The site is the former RNAS Osprey at the northern end of Portland centred on SY682742. It is situated largely on reclaimed land, formerly the low-lying mudflats of the Mere between Chesil Beach and Portland Harbour beach. The south east margins of the site lie on the edge of Portland itself. Most of the reclaimed area is about 3m above Ordnance Datum and comprises concrete and tarmac hardstandings, fuel tank facilities, buildings and playing field areas.