SNN105653 - An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of St. Katherine's Street, Northampton

A desk-based assessment has been undertaken on the site currently occupied by Trefoil House, St. Katherine’s Street, Northampton, as part of a planning application for redevelopment to provide 20 new residential units and 10 car parking spaces. AOC Archaeology has been commissioned to carry out this study by Space Architecture on behalf of the client, MRP Developments Ltd. The Trefoil House site, St. Katherine’s Street, lies in the historic heart of Northampton, at NGR SP 7523 6053 (figs. 1 and 2). The application site is currently occupied by a small brick building known as the Trefoil House which is currently used by the Girl Guides Association of Northampton. The application site is not within any of the Northampton Conservation Areas, but it is set within an area of known archaeological significance. The application site measures c256.3m² and the proposed scheme comprises an eight storey block housing 20 residential units with 10 associated car parking spaces (fig. 3). The study examines former land use and archaeological potential of the study area to provide a better understanding of past activities at two layers of resolution 1. The historic town of Northampton and 2. The immediate vicinity of the application site – defined as 200m radius of the site centre. The assessment covers all aspects of the study area, including existing built environment, sub-surface archaeological potential and associated cultural connections, such as important events or figures or national or local historic significance. This provides a baseline of known and potential archaeology, related to existing cultural values, against which the impact of the proposed development is considered. The application site is in an area of known archaeological significance and the assessment identifies 47 sites immediately adjacent to the application site (Fig. 7a) out of 261 recorded in the Northampton Sites and Monuments Record for a 200m radius of the site. Ninety three archaeological interventions, defined as excavations, observations, surveys and interpretations (Fig 7b), were assessed for environmental and archaeological baseline information. The quality of archaeological information for the site is sufficient to establish a high level of confidence in the nature and character of the archaeological issues raised by the proposed development. There is a clear probability that remains of Saxon, Medieval and post-medieval date are present. Evidence from excavations at the Barclaycard/Sol Central site demonstrate the presence of earlier remains, although the potential for associated remains occurring at the applications site is considered low. Neither the possible pre-Saxon nor the probable Saxon Medieval and post-medieval surviving remains are likely to include significant architectural features, but substantial remains of 19th century cellars have been identified within the application site. These cellars are likely to have caused some level of truncation to the earlier deposits and a programme of archaeological evaluation is recommended in order to further characterise the nature of the remaining archaeological resource. The assessment of significance and effect suggest that, the concentration of Saxon and Medieval settlement evidence in the area is partly offset by previous impact, consequently archaeological remains of national importance are not anticipated and the surviving deposits are more likely to be of regional significance. Northampton Local Plan Policy E37 seeks to protect such remains, and as such reflects the general objective of national policy to preserve archaeological remains. However, it is be noted that national policy specifically advises LPA’s to apply a presumption in favour of physical in situ preservation (PPG 16 para 8) to remains of national importance. Further information regarding the presence and condition of potential Saxon and Medieval remains, as well as confirming the anticipated character of prehistoric and post-medieval deposits could assist in determining the appropriate measures to mitigate the impact of the proposed development. In discussions with Myk Flitcroft, Northamptonshire Historic Environment Team Leader, the possibility of undertaking field evaluation prior to determination has been considered. However, the significant truncation of the possible archaeological deposits by C19th Cellar construction indicates that any archaeological evaluation excavation may be deferred to post-consent, which would also enable a more thorough examination of surviving deposits once the existing building is demolished. Such an approach is available to the local authority, who could approve the planning application and secure appropriate mitigation measures through planning conditions. A condition would require a staged programme of archaeological works, commencing with evaluation trenching and concluding with an agreed programme of mitigation investigations. The evaluation Strategy ought to consider: • The extent of truncation of earlier archaeological deposits by the construction of the 19th century cellars, • The possible presence of pre-Saxon remains, • The nature and level of survival of Saxon, medieval and post-medieval archaeological features relating to industrial, domestic and craft activity. This approach to the planning issue is consistent with historic environment policies and can be advanced through a process subject to further LPA planning controls. Relevant guidance concerning arrangements for archaeological evaluation and subsequent mitigation, through reserved matters procedures, is set out in PPG16 para 28 and a suitably worded condition is recommended in para 30. Similar policy provisions are reflected in Structure and Local Plan Policies as noted above.