Cultural Heritage and Archaeology
The assessment of potential cultural heritage effects (both direct and indirect) involved desk-based study, site walkovers, and visits to potential off-site receptors.
- The desk-based study included a review of all available relevant sources of information on the extent and nature of any features of cultural heritage interest located within the site. This information included existing records of known features and documentary sources such as aerial maps and historic maps and documents from local authority record offices, English Heritage, Berkshire Archaeology Historic Environment Record, libraries and others;
- A detailed site walkover was undertaken to examine the current ground conditions and land use and to identify and assess the implications of this for the preservation of any previously unrecorded features of cultural heritage interest. It included visits to known archaeological features and heritage assets within the study area and those within the extended study area with the potential to be affected indirectly.
The assessment concluded that there will be no direct effects on designated heritage assets within the development site. Although the upgraded road to the Research Centre and Turbine 3 passes near to the ruins of St. Bartholomew’s Church (a Scheduled Ancient Monument) the use of the adjacent field to accommodate vehicle turning has eliminated the need for construction activities on the side of the road closest to the ruins.
Crop marks and artefact finds on and in the vicinity of the site suggest the fragmentary remains of a managed landscape of the Iron Age or Romano-British periods. The site design has ensured that any identified areas of cultural heritage interest have been avoided. To ensure that construction activity does not significantly affect any previously unknown features of cultural heritage interest, a programme of archaeological investigation would be carried out by appropriately qualified archaeologists prior to construction and according to a Written Scheme of Archaeological Investigation agreed with Wokingham Borough Council. With these measures in place, it is considered that there would be no significant direct effects on features of cultural heritage interest as a result of the proposed wind energy development.
Effects on the settings of important cultural heritage receptors including scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, listed buildings, conservation areas and areas of high archaeological potential within the extended 5km study area were assessed. The assessment included site visits and reference to wireframes and photomontages produced to illustrate likely views of the wind turbines. The assessment was undertaken in close cooperation with the Landscape and Visual Assessment. Following a detailed review it is considered that there would be no significant adverse effects on any of these receptors, and that the development would not detract from an appreciation of them.