Huw Jones
Director for Environment & Economy
Mary Thompson
Environment and Economy
Speedwell House
Speedwell Street
Oxford
OX1 1NE
Historic and Natural Environment Team
Infrastructure Planning
Speedwell House
Speedwell Street
Oxford, OX1 1NE
Tel: 01865 32 8944
Email: Richard.Oram@oxfordshire.gov.uk
My Ref: RO/0586
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19th December 2012
Please ask for:
Richard Oram
Planning Archaeologist
Dear Sir/Madam,
R3.0197/12 – Benson Library, Castle Square, Benson, Wallingford
The building concerned lies within an area of some archaeological interest located within
the historic core of the settlement and 27m south of an early C18th grade II listed building
(PRN 20554). Iron Age settlement evidence has been recorded 250m to the SE (PRN
4468) and an early Roman settlement site was recorded during development 370m SE
(PRN 16139). Evidence of an extensive Roman settlement in the area was recorded 110m
to the SW in the late C19th (PRN 9670), mainly during gravel extraction and a series of
archaeological features, dating from the Neolithic through to the early Saxon period was
recorded on Helens Avenue ahead of development (PRN 16138). Further Saxon material
including pottery and an Iron Knife have been recorded 130m to the north of the site (PRN
9952). It is possible therefore that archaeological deposits related to these periods could
survive on the site.
We would, therefore, recommend that, should planning permission be granted, the
applicant should be responsible for ensuring the implementation of an archaeological
monitoring and recording action (watching brief) to be maintained during the period of
construction. This can be ensured through the attachment of a suitable negative condition
along the lines of:
1) Prior to any demolition and the commencement of the development a professional
archaeological organisation acceptable to the Local Planning Authority shall prepare an
Archaeological Written Scheme of Investigation, relating to the application site area,
which shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.
Reason - To safeguard the recording of archaeological matters within the site in
accordance with the NPPF (2012)
Reason - To safeguard the recording and inspection of matters of archaeological
importance on the site in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF
2012).
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2) Following the approval of the Written Scheme of Investigation referred to in condition 1,
no development shall commence on site without the appointed archaeologist being present.
Once the watching brief has been completed its findings shall be reported to the Local
Planning Authority, as agreed in the Written Scheme of Investigation, including all
processing, research and analysis necessary to produce an accessible and useable
archive and a full report for publication.
Reason - To safeguard the recording and inspection of matters of archaeological
importance on the site in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF
2012).
If the applicant makes contact with us at the above address, we shall be pleased to outline
the procedures involved, provide a brief upon which a costed specification can be based,
and provide a list of archaeological contractors working in the area.
Yours Sincerely
Richard Oram
Planning Archaeologist