Planning Case Study 41

A22 New Route, Dittons to Willingdon Drove, Eastbourne, East Sussex

c.1990-1998

Planning scenario(s)

3 - Pre-determination assessment/evaluation led to the designation (listing or scheduling) of heritage assets - Pre-determination results led to the designation of heritage asset(s) on the development site.
5 - Pre-determination assessment/evaluation not undertaken; heritage assets identified during development - The absence of pre-determination assessment/evaluation on all or part of the development site (e.g. because of difficulties with access, refusal to evaluate) led to the unexpected discovery of archaeology during development that caused problems, such as delays to the development programme and/or the need for additional resources.

Heritage assets affected

Scheduled Monument Non-designated heritage assets with archaeological and historic interest, of national importance

Type of application & broad category

Road scheme

Local planning authority

Authority: East Sussex County Council
References: EB/1227/CC 1990, permission granted March 1991

Development proposal

Local authority road scheme

Archaeological information known about the site before the planning application was made, or before the development commenced, as appropriate

Nothing on the HER, and at the time of the development the potential of route (which included areas of wetland) was thought to be low.

Archaeological/planning processes

No provision for evaluation, or mitigation by planning condition. Important archaeology was identified through a watching brief.

A subsequent programme of investigation funded by the developer (County Council) led to the partial destruction, partial recording and partial preservation in situ of an internationally important Late Bronze Age site comprising a ‘causeway and platform’, rich in evidence for buildings, burials and artefacts. Some of the surviving elements of the site have subsequently been scheduled.

The archaeological condition of the wetland areas continues to be monitored.

Outcomes: archaeological

See above. A planning condition (no. 4) includes provision for the protection of the burial mounds when the solar farm is due to revert to its former agricultural use 25 years after the commencement of the solar farm’s operation.

References and links/bibliography

  • National Heritage List reference for Scheduled Monument: no. 1400780: Shinewater Bronze Age settlement.
  • Archaeology South-East 1998, The Shinewater track : An excavation of a late Bronze Age waterlogged structure on the Willingdon Levels, Near Eastbourne, East Sussex. Unpublished report, no. 408.