Planning Case Study 51
Barbican Car Park, Ladybellegate Street, Gloucester, Gloucestershire
Planning scenario(s)
Heritage assets affected
Designated heritage assets with archaeological and historic interest Undesignated heritage assets with archaeological and historic interest
Type of application & broad category
Local planning authority
Authority: Gloucester District Council
References: 16/01525/FUL
Development proposal
Redevelopment of the site for the construction of student accommodation of 295 bedrooms, and associated works.
Archaeological information known about the site before the planning application was made, or before the development commenced, as appropriate
The site is located within the historic core of Gloucester and includes part of the Roman fort, part of the Roman town of Glevum, evidence for Anglo-Saxon occupation and of the 11th century Norman castle at Gloucester. Two areas of the site form part of the scheduled monument of Glevum Roman colonia. The site had been vacant and undeveloped since the 1990s.
Archaeological/planning processes
Prior to the determination of this planning application a desk-based assessment, followed by a trial trench evaluation supported by a watching brief on geotechnical investigations, were carried out and a deposit model produced.
The evaluation indicated that much of the site contained well preserved and deeply stratified urban archaeological remains of national importance, including evidence of the rampart and probable wall of the Roman defences, several Roman buildings (probably town houses), and Anglo-Saxon and medieval deposits including ditch deposits that may be part of the 11th century castle.
This information enabled the developer, during the determination period, to redesign their scheme largely to avoid archaeological impacts (in accordance with Historic England piling and preservation in situ guidance).
Outcomes: archaeological
The result was that the overall cost of archaeological mitigation was reduced and the scheme was able to achieve very high levels of preservation in situ (the impact of piling within the building footprint is often less than 1%). This is a very sustainable approach that should be reproduceable elsewhere in Gloucester city.
The development was given planning permission with pre-commencement planning conditions covering:
- Archaeological investigation
- Public engagement
- Prior approval of foundations, and all groundworks in order to minimise impact
There was still a need for some archaeological excavation in advance of development, and a watching brief during development, as some impacts could not be avoided. But, given the scale of the development and the importance of the archaeology, these were limited in scale.
Other outcomes/outputs e.g. other public benefit such as public engagement, research and new/changed work practices
Planning permission included a condition to secure a programme of public engagement.
References and links/bibliography
- Cotswold Archaeology 2016, Cityheart Barbican Student Accommodation, Historic Environment Study. Unpublished report, CA report 16583.
- Cotswold Archaeology 2016, Greater Blackfriars (Quayside/Blackfriars), Gloucester, Archaeological Evaluation. Unpublished report, CA report 16366.
- Cotswold Archaeology 2016, Gloucester Quayside and Blackfriars, Gloucestershire, Archaeological Assessment. Unpublished report, CA report 16567.
- Cotswold Archaeology 2016, Greater Blackfriars (Quayside/Blackfriars), Gloucester, Archaeological Evaluation. Unpublished report, CA report 16366.
