Planning Case Study 157
Land north west of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Planning scenario(s)
Heritage assets affected
Non-designated heritage assets with archaeological and historic interest
Type of application & broad category
Local planning authority
Authority: St Edmundsbury Borough Council
References: DC/13/0932/HYB and EIA
Development proposal
Outline application for c.900 houses, link road and change of use of c.16ha of agricultural land to green space.
Archaeological information known about the site before the planning application was made, or before the development commenced, as appropriate
The large proposed development site was on ground sloping up from the valley of the River Lark.
There was little known archaeological information from the development site apart from a find spot of an Anglo-Saxon disc from a hanging bowl, a Roman coin and a prehistoric socketed axe. However, topographically, the site was in an area of high archaeological potential. It is also less than 100m from cropmarks of ring ditches associated with one end of the Neolithic Fornham Cursus, a Scheduled Monument. In addition, the Anglo-Saxon find from the site indicated some potential for contemporary burials in the vicinity.
Archaeological/planning processes
Given the potential of the site, the developer’s consultant engaged in early dialogue with the LPA’s archaeological advisors.
Pre-determination assessment and evaluation was undertaken and comprised fieldwalking, geophysical survey and a trial trench evaluation sample of between 3.5 and 5%. It identified Iron Age and Roman remains in two particular areas of the development site. Although these features formed part of the continuum of landscape use in the vicinity of the cursus, there were no grounds for their preservation. Pre-commencement archaeological conditions were therefore recommended to be attached to the planning permission. There were, however, local challenges to this course of action that were eventually resolved, as the approach could be demonstrated to be proportionate and systematic.
Excavation of a multi-period landscape took place in 2016. Approximately 20ha of the c.70ha development was archaeologically investigated. A notable additional discovery during excavation was two prehistoric burnt mounds deemed to be of national interest.
The pre-commencement conditions were successfully implemented and were finally discharged in 2019.
Outcomes: archaeological
A pre-determination evaluation was successful in revealing a multi-period landscape of regional significance and allowing an informed decision to be made about its mitigation. However, the evaluation missed an important and well-preserved Bronze Age focus. The pre-commencement condition enabled this to be investigated.
The pre-commencement condition was successfully implemented and covered the production of a comprehensive post-excavation assessment and a strategy for community engagement (see below).
Other outcomes/outputs e.g. other public benefit such as public engagement, research and new/changed work practices
A strategy for community engagement was included in the WSI and helped to maximise the public benefit of the investigation of the archaeology on the site. This included talks, open days, community excavation, welcome packs, the use of digital media and a popular publication.
There was positive public feedback to the developer about the welcome pack and the local outreach events from a number of the smaller housebuilders working on the site, to the effect that people appreciated seeing the time depth of history on the site of the new houses. It also helped to address previous concerns from the local community about the wider archaeological processes and strategy.
References and links/bibliography
- Suffolk Archaeology 2013, Land North-West of Bury St Edmunds Phase 2, Fornham, All Saints, Archaeological Evaluation Report. Unpublished report, Suffolk County Council Archaeology Service Report no. 2013/035
- Suffolk Archaeology 2018, Marham Park, Bury St-Edmunds, Suffolk, Post-excavation assessment report. Unpublished report, Suffolk County Council Archaeology Service Report no. 2018/040.
