SNN109452 - Cultural Heritage Desk Based Assessment: Project Gulliver, Brackmills Point, Northampton, Northamptonshire

This cultural heritage desk-based assessment assesses the archaeological potential of land at Brackmills Point, Lilliput Lane, Northampton. This report forms the desk-based assessment required by paragraph 128 of the NPPF to identify the presence of heritage assets and where present to assess impact on their significance. This desk-based assessment has established that no designated archaeological heritage assets are present within or in close proximity to the study site. It has also identified that there are 16 listed buildings, of which three are Grade II* and the remainder being Grade II and one conservation area within the search radius for the site. A negligible level of impact has been identified for the majority of the listed buildings, predominantly due to their position in the landscape and settlement of Great Houghton, where sufficient protection is afforded to them. There will be a negligible to minor level of detrimental impact on the settings of the Grade II* listed buildings and the conservation area, but this is considered to be on the wider setting of each of these designated heritage assets. The report identifies that the wider settings of these assets only contributes minimally to the significance of these listed buildings and the conservation area, and thus the impact would result in a negligible level of detriment on the significances of these designated heritage assets. This assessment has established that non-designated Medieval/Post Medieval ridge and furrow cultivation earthworks of local significance are present on the study site. Beyond this asset, no other previously recorded non-designated archaeological heritage assets are noted. However, a theoretical potential for Roman activity to be present was recognised and subsequent geophysical survey undertaken as part of this assessment has identified a potential focus of previously unrecorded below ground archaeological remains, within the southeastern part of the study site. In light of the potential recognised for the study site to contain previously unrecorded archaeological remains of interest, it is anticipated that the local planning authority will require further archaeological work in the form of a field evaluation (targeted trial trenching). This will more fully establish the presence/absence, extent, date, character and state of preservation of any buried heritage assets and the significance that can be attached to these to inform the planning application. A prior record of the arrangement of the currently extant former ridge and furrow cultivation present on the study site has been made as part of the geophysical survey conducted as part of this study. It is therefore considered that no further work beyond this record of the asset will be necessary.