WEST MIDLANDS OFFICE
Mr Gavin Greenhow
Wychavon District Council
Civic Centre
Queen Elizabeth Drive
Pershore
Worcestershire
WR10 1PT
Direct Dial: 01216256856
Direct Fax: 01216256821
Our ref: P00392510
12 April 2014
Dear Mr Greenhow
Notifications under Circular 01/2001, Circular 08/2009 &
T&CP (Development Management Procedure) Order 2010
PODEN FARM, MICKLETON ROAD, HONEYBOURNE, EVESHAM, WR11 7PS
Application No W/14/00546/PN
Thank you for your letter of 25 March 2014 notifying English Heritage of the above
application.
Summary
This application for Planning Permission is within the scheduled ancient monument
known as Deserted village of Poden, List Entry Number 1005288. The proposals are
described as “reinstate historic stream and pond including new footbridge over, to
alleviate flooding”. English Heritage has been involved in pre-application discussions
and is not objecting to the principle of a flood alleviation channel, but retains some
concerns about the impact of the proposals upon the scheduled ancient monument.
English Heritage’s principle concerns are that the proposed channel is of significant
depth affecting the monuments character and future character, and also that the
historic pond location has not been fully assessed in advance of proposals. English
Heritage recommends that further work is required prior to determination and favours a
less intrusive grass swale option.
The proposals will require scheduled monument consent.
English Heritage Advice
The proposed development is within the scheduled ancient monument known as
Deserted village of Poden, List Entry Number 1005288. This is a medieval settlement
site with documented pre-medieval origins. The monument is well-preserved with
building platforms visible as archaeological earthworks. Deposits of archaeological
THE AXIS 10 HOLLIDAY STREET BIRMINGHAM B1 1TG
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www.english-heritage.org.uk
English Heritage is subject to the Freedom of Information Act. 2000 (FOIA) and Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).
All information held by the organisation will be accessible in response to an information request, unless one of the exemptions in
the FOIA or EIR applies.
WEST MIDLANDS OFFICE
significance will be preserved beneath the ground surface.
The applicant has had prior discussion with English Heritage regarding this proposal,
which were originally commenced on site without the benefit of scheduled monument
consent. The applicant aims to re-open a former watercourse on the site, which is
visible as a shallow earthwork. Their intention is that this will alleviate occasional
flooding of Poden Farm during extreme weather events.
To help inform their current proposals the applicant has commissioned an
archaeological evaluation of the historic watercourse and prepared a flood mitigation
assessment for the site.
These reports provide useful information to help guide the proposal. The reports are
welcomed by English Heritage and have helped reduce our concerns over the
proposals, which had the potential to cause substantial harm to the significance of the
monument. However, the proposal will still affect the character of the scheduled
monument and may still affect archaeological deposits of significance with the
excavation of the former pond. Therefore, English Heritage retains concerns
regarding the proposal and has expressed these prior to the applicant’s submission for
planning. These concerns are set out below.
The proposed works are a significant intervention into the scheduled monument.
Although, the archaeological evaluation has indicated that the deposits filling the
former watercourse are of low significance to the designated status of the monument
the proposed works will result in a deep channel bisecting the site. A deep channel of
this nature has the potential to erode at its edges through livestock using the open
channel for water making potentially significant archaeology to either side vulnerable.
In addition, although the applicant has indicated they would not fence out the channel,
a new owner or change in grazing may result in a desire to fence the channel that
would visually disrupt the site. English Heritage has expressed their preference for a
shallow swale solution. A shallow swale would not need fencing and would remain as
a grass covered feature during most of the year when not functioning as flood
alleviation.
English Heritage are of the view that the evidence presented does not fully support the
scale of the proposal and are concerned that the scheme is over-engineered for the
need. The flood mitigation report indicates that improvements to the existing
watercourse to the south of Poden Farm would increase flow during flood events.
Some additional flood alleviation to the north of Poden Farm would still be required,
but it should be the minimum required to achieve the maximum flow through the
culvert under the disused railway, which I understand is the principal limiting factor.
Prior to application, this was discussed with the applicant. They have indicated that
THE AXIS 10 HOLLIDAY STREET BIRMINGHAM B1 1TG
Telephone 0121 625 6820 Facsimile 0121 625 6821
www.english-heritage.org.uk
English Heritage is subject to the Freedom of Information Act. 2000 (FOIA) and Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).
All information held by the organisation will be accessible in response to an information request, unless one of the exemptions in
the FOIA or EIR applies.
WEST MIDLANDS OFFICE
improvement to the existing watercourse would not be permitted by the Environment
Agency, but have not provided any evidence of this. The views of the Environment
Agency should be sought regarding this scheme and the potential to reduce the impact
on the monument through improvements to the existing watercourse must be
explored.
The proposal also includes the re-establishment of the pond at the east end of the
proposed channel. This is the site of an historic pond. At the time of the
archaeological evaluation, the applicant was seeking to place a channel through the
site of the pond and was not seeking to restore the pond. Therefore the extent and
depth of deposits filling the pond were not explored. The proposed restoration of the
pond will therefore require further field evaluation to determine its former limits, depths
of fill and identify any deposits of archaeological significance. This should be carried
out prior to determination.
Sections 128,129, 131 and 132 of the National Planning Policy Framework should be
applied to the current proposal. English Heritage's view is that the current proposed
scheme requires further justification and assessment in order to inform proposals. The
proposal will have an impact on the character of the monument and has the potential
to disturb significant archaeological information. A carefully, designed shallower swale
following the historic watercourse may be acceptable.
Recommendation
English Heritage does not object to the proposal in principle. However, the current
proposal has the potential to cause harm to the significance of the monument and we
recommend that further work and justification is required before this application can be
determined. We would recommend the following course of action:
1. That the views of the Environment Agency are sought in relation to the improvement
of the watercourse to the south of Poden Farm.
2. That the option of a shallower grass swale option is fully explored as a potential
solution to the flooding issues at the site.
3. That the area of the former pond is assessed through field evaluation to determine
potential impact of the proposal and inform design.
The proposal will require Scheduled Monument Consent.
We would welcome the opportunity of advising further. Please consult us again if any
additional information or amendments are submitted. If, notwithstanding our advice,
you propose to approve the scheme in its present form, please advise us of the date of
the committee and send us a copy of your report at the earliest opportunity.
THE AXIS 10 HOLLIDAY STREET BIRMINGHAM B1 1TG
Telephone 0121 625 6820 Facsimile 0121 625 6821
www.english-heritage.org.uk
English Heritage is subject to the Freedom of Information Act. 2000 (FOIA) and Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).
All information held by the organisation will be accessible in response to an information request, unless one of the exemptions in
the FOIA or EIR applies.
WEST MIDLANDS OFFICE
Yours sincerely
Neil Rimmington
Assistant Inspector of Ancient Monuments
E-mail: neil.rimmington@english-heritage.org.uk
cc Mike Glyde - Worcestershire County Council
Elaine Artherton - Wychavon District Council
THE AXIS 10 HOLLIDAY STREET BIRMINGHAM B1 1TG
Telephone 0121 625 6820 Facsimile 0121 625 6821
www.english-heritage.org.uk
English Heritage is subject to the Freedom of Information Act. 2000 (FOIA) and Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIR).
All information held by the organisation will be accessible in response to an information request, unless one of the exemptions in
the FOIA or EIR applies.