Planning Case Study 112
Land at Congleton Road, Sandbach, Cheshire
Planning scenario(s)
Heritage assets affected
Non-designated heritage assets with archaeological and historic interest
Type of application & broad category
Local planning authority
Authority: Cheshire East Council
References: 12/1903C and APP/R0660/A/13/2189733
Development proposal
Outline application for the erection of up to 160 dwellings, including landscaping, access and associated infrastructure, and the demolition of 130 Congleton Road, c.8.2 ha.
Archaeological information known about the site before the planning application was made, or before the development commenced, as appropriate
There was nothing on the HER within the proposed development area but there was a light spread of metal detector finds from the surrounding area.
Archaeological/planning processes
Application for development of an extensive area of farmland on the outskirts of Sandbach. It was refused by the LPA in 2012 and granted at Appeal in 2013.
The permission was accompanied by a pre-commencement condition requiring a programme of archaeological work. The programme comprised an initial supervised metal detector survey across the whole development area with provision for further targeted investigation of any area of interest. Survey and subsequent investigation took place in 2015.
Outcomes: archaeological
Over 200 metal finds were recovered from the supervised metal detecting survey. They were distributed sparsely across the area. Most were of post- medieval date and were interpreted as evidence of casual loss and spreading of household rubbish on the fields. However, a small number of Roman finds were made including three coins, a lead weight, a rivet and the arm of a small bronze figurine.
On the basis of this small assemblage, the removal of the topsoil was monitored across the western part of the site (c.2.1ha). This revealed the plough-damaged remains of an area of Roman activity which was excavated and recorded. The remains consisted of shallow ditches, pits, gullies and postholes, all of which had been seriously eroded by ploughing. Further finds were limited and consisted of 37 sherds of Roman pottery.
This example is included because its ephemeral and plough damaged features and sparse artefactual assemblage are typical of rural sites in the lowland north west. However, the approach outlined above (a staged programme of work secured by condition) has the potential to identify such sites in an efficient and proportionate way which is supported by the planning authority.
Other outcomes/outputs e.g. other public benefit such as public engagement, research and new/changed work practices
The archaeological advisor to the LPA has recommended the use of supervised metal detecting as a survey technique on a number greenfield development sites in Cheshire recently. The results have been assessed in an article by Dr Rob Philpott of Liverpool University which has been published in volume 88 of the Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society.
References and links/bibliography
- Wardell Armstrong 2015a, Land at Congleton Road, Sandbach, Cheshire: metal-detector survey report July 2015. Unpublished report.
- Wardell Armstrong 2015b, Land at Congleton Road, Sandbach, Cheshire: archaeological watching brief report November 2015. Unpublished report.
- Philpott, R A, 2019, ‘An assessment of the utility of supervised metal detecting in development-led archaeological work in Cheshire’, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society 87-114, Volume 88 for 2018.
