ARCHAEOLOGICAL & CONSERVATION AREA CONSULTATION
Application Reference: 13/02831/FUL
Address: Druid’s Arms, Bromley Road, Stanton Drew, BS39 4EJ
Proposal: Installation of a propane gas tanks on concrete base and protective hand
railing (retrospective).
The Development
This is a retrospective application for installation of a propane gas tank to supply the
Druids Arms public house in the village of Stanton Drew. The tank lies in very close
proximity to the prehistoric Cove, which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument - lying
within 5m of the scheduled area and 10m of the standing stones. The tank sits on a
large concrete base and is surrounded by safety railing, all of which are clearly
visible from the ancient monument. In addition the submitted drawings show a
pipeline from the gas tank to the public house, which appears to pass through the
scheduled area.
Heritage Assets
The Cove (Monument No 22862) is a very rare type of monument being one of only
nine such examples in the country. It forms part of a lager complex of prehistoric
monuments within the village, which include three large stone circles, two avenues of
standing stones and a single standing stone. These monuments are believed to date
from the late Neolithic to early Bronze Age (3000 to 2000 BC) and are of equal
importance to the monuments at Stonehenge and Avebury. The cove was formed by
three large standing stone (one now fallen) which would have enclosed a roughly
square area with an open side facing southwards.
The gas tank is also lies close to St Mary’s Church and churchyard, a medieval
Grade II* Listed Building, and within the Stanton Drew Conservation Area. The
spatial relationship between the church and the Cove is possibly symbolic of the old
pagan religious beliefs being replaced by Christianity. This relationship between
prehistoric monuments and medieval churches is exhibited on other sites around the
country, and therefore increases the significance and importance of their group
setting within the Conservation Area.
Relevant Planning Policy and Guidance
National Planning Policy Framework (Paragraph 132): When considering the impact
of a proposed development on the significance of a designated heritage asset, great
weight should be given to the asset’s conservation. The more important the asset,
the greater the weight should be. Significance can be harmed or lost through
alteration or destruction of the heritage asset or development within its setting. As
heritage assets are irreplaceable, any harm or loss should require clear and
convincing justification. Substantial harm to or loss of a grade II listed building, park
or garden should be exceptional. Substantial harm to or loss of designated heritage
assets of the highest significance, notably scheduled monuments, protected wreck
sites, battlefields, grade I and II* listed buildings, grade I and II* registered parks and
gardens, and World Heritage Sites, should be wholly exceptional.
National Planning Policy Framework (133): Where a proposed development will lead
to substantial harm to or total loss of significance of a designated heritage asset,
local planning authorities should refuse consent, unless it can be demonstrated that
the substantial harm or loss is necessary to achieve substantial public benefits that
outweigh that harm or loss, or all of the following apply:
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the nature of the heritage asset prevents all reasonable uses of the site; and
no viable use of the heritage asset itself can be found in the medium term
through appropriate marketing that will enable its conservation; and
conservation by grant-funding or some form of charitable or public ownership is
demonstrably not possible; and
the harm or loss is outweighed by the benefit of bringing the site back into use.
B&NES Local Plan (Policy BH.11): Development which would adversely affect
Scheduled Ancient Monuments, or any other sites of national importance, and their
settings and does not preserve such sites in situ will not be permitted.
Archaeology in B&NES Supplementary Planning Guidance (Section 2.2): Any
development proposals likely to affect a scheduled monument will require Scheduled
Monument Consent (SMC) from the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
and in such cases the setting of a monument as well as its physical preservation are
material considerations. Any works carried out to a SAM without consent are a
criminal offence and liable to prosecution under the 1979 Act.
D: Discussion and Recommendation
The full extent of the original Cove monument is unknown, However, recent
geophysical survey work suggests that the stones could be the remains of a more
extensive Neolithic long barrow (burial mound). The installation concrete base for
the gas tank and pipeline to the public house may have caused irreparable damage
to archaeological deposits and features associated with this monument.
Furthermore, given that no archaeological work or monitoring was undertaken during
the installation, information of national importance may have been lost forever. The
pipeline almost certainly passes through part of the scheduled area, and if so has
been installed out without Scheduled Monument Consent.
The location and form of the gas tank has had a detrimental effect on the immediate
setting of the Cove monument, introducing a modern industrial structure to within 5m
of the ancient monument. The gas tank has also radically change and had a
detrimental effect on the wider landscape setting of the monument, in particular the
views/open aspect southwards, which appears to have been significant in the
monument’s design. In addition the important relationship between the Cove and
medieval church and their group setting within this part of the Conservation Area has
been compromised. These detrimental impacts are not outweighed by any
demonstrable public benefit.
Given the above considerations and both national and local planning policy and
guidance, which require the Local Planning Authority to protect Scheduled Ancient
Monuments and their settings, I would recommend that this application is refused.
Reasons for refusal:
The proposed development by reason of its location may have caused significant
damaged to below ground archaeological deposits and features associated with the
Cove, contrary to the Ancient Monuments Act 1979, the National Planning Policy
Framework and local planning policy.
The proposed development by reason of its location would have a detrimental effect
upon the immediate setting of the Cove, its wider landscape setting, and its visual
relationship to other Heritage Assets in the Conservation Area, contrary to the
Ancient Monuments Act 1979, the Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Act
1990, the National Planning Policy Framework and local planning policy.
Richard Sermon
Senior Archaeological Officer, 27 August 2013