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ID sylw: 106888

Derbyniwyd: 06/03/2025

Ymatebydd: Historic England

In relation to the Sustainability Appraisal (SA), we refer you to Historic England’s Advice Note 8: Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment, 2016 (HEAN8):

https://content.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/sustainability-appraisal-and-strategic-environmental-assessment-advice-note-8/heag036-sustainability-appraisal-strategic-environmental-assessment.pdf/

It is unclear from the SA Report whether the Council’s ‘Heritage and Settlement Sensitivity Assessment’ (September 2022) was utilised in the assessment of cultural heritage and we would suggest that this study, and any further heritage evidence, are fully utilised when the SA is revisited.

Historic England welcomes SA Objective 5: Cultural Heritage, and is pleased that non-designated heritage assets and their settings are encompassed within the decision-making criteria. However, in terms of the indicators included in the SA Framework (Appendix A of the SA Report), we suggest that the HER is also utilised.

We are pleased to see that all of the Strategic Growth Locations (SGLs) and the potential New Settlements have been assessed in relation to heritage impacts and we would agree with the assessment of New Settlement C1 (Land south of Kingswood) that this is the most sensitive location in terms of the potential for substantial harm to the significance of heritage assets. Therefore, we would not wish to see this new settlement location taken forward to the Regulation 19 stage Plan.

We would strongly agree with the recommendations included in Ch.9 of the Interim SA Report in relation to SA objective 5 (cultural heritage), that Heritage Impact Assessments and archaeological surveys are carried out for the SLGs and the New Settlement options.