SNN106250 - The Grand Hotel, Gold Street, Northampton: Archaeological Desk Based Assessment

Land at and including the Grand Hotel, Northampton, centred at SP 753 603, is proposed for redevelopment and has been assessed for its archaeological potential. The study site is located within an Acknowledged Archaeological Area as identified by Northampton Borough Council Local Plan. Accordingly the site was identified to have a high archaeological potential for the Saxon, Medieval and Post-Medieval periods and a low potential for all other periods. Post depositional impacts, which mainly derive from modern buildings and the current cellar, are expected to have had a widespread and potentially total truncating effect on any archaeological deposits present within the building footprint. The proposed development would only exceed the current building footprint within a single area. Due to the nature, depths and location of the works required, the proposed development is not expected to have any archaeological impact. In view of the sites archaeological potential and the potential significance of remains if encountered, it is the suggestion of this study that all new groundworks should be archaeologically monitored in a watching brief, to ensure that there is no archaeological impact.