Land west of Barton and north of A40, Wolvercote, Oxford, Oxfordshire
7 - Pre-commencement archaeological conditions were attached to a planning permission
Pre-commencement archaeological conditions were attached to a planning permission and were necessary in order to enable the development to be permitted.
11 - Enforcement (formal or informal) of an archaeological planning condition enabled the specified works to be completed
The presence of a 'live' and undischarged planning condition after completion of a development was considered to be important and beneficial in helping to secure adequate resources for post-excavation.
Undesignated heritage assets with archaeological and historic interest
Outline application for the erection of: A maximum of 885 residential units (Class C3); a maximum of 2,500 sq m gross Class A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 uses (with a maximum of 2,000 sq m gross foodstore Class A1); a maximum of 50 extra care housing units; a maximum of 7,350 sq m GEA hotel (Class C1); a maximum of 3,000 sq m GEA Class D1, D2 floorspace (community hub and primary school); in development blocks ranging from 2 to 5 storeys with associated cycle and car parking, landscaping, public realm works, interim works and associated highway works.
There was very little archaeological information from the development site itself, but evidence of activity during most earlier periods in the surrounding landscape.
A desk-based assessment in 2009 summarised the available archaeological information from the development site and surrounding area. It concluded that: There was generally low potential for prehistoric remains other than of Neolithic and Iron Age date where the potential was higher; low to moderate potential for Roman remains; the potential for Anglo-Saxon remains was high in view of an inhumation found very close to the site; there was high potential for medieval and post-medieval agricultural features. Geophysical survey and evaluation trenching were recommended.
A geophysical survey in 2011, followed by a 57-trench evaluation in 2012, identified a dispersed pattern of ditches representing fields, paddocks and droveways of predominantly medieval date.
Planning permission was granted in 2013 with a pre-commencement planning condition attached to secure archaeological investigation, including evaluation of areas of the site to which access was not previously available.
A series of small-scale excavations was undertaken across the site to target specific areas of high density archaeology, and the results can be summarised as follows:
"The excavated features comprised the remains of Romano-British and later field systems including rectilinear enclosures and possible trackways, perhaps representing a number of sequential attempts to cultivate an area of poor and frequently waterlogged land. These features were overlain and truncated by medieval ridge and furrow on a different alignment again. The pottery assemblage from the site was paltry, comprising little more than 40 identifiable sherds of Roman or medieval date. There were, however, some notable isolated finds including a Middle Bronze Age pit, an early Roman cremation burial and a single first-century AD Roman coin. Furthermore, residual finds of a spearhead and knife, although more than 200m distance apart, indicate the possibility of an early Anglo-Saxon inhumation cemetery in the vicinity. Finally, a modest assemblage of medieval and post-medieval horseshoes possibly indicates that the site was once situated along a traversable route, perhaps between the medieval settlements of Headington and Wick"
(Martin and Champness forthcoming).
The fieldwork was completed on time and to budget.
Due to the nature of the archaeology present on the site a brief publication report in the regional journal was proposed by the LPA’s archaeological adviser.
Following the completion of the fieldwork the developer assumed that the project had been completed. Negotiation over the post-excavation programme and costs continued for some time. The issue was resolved by reference to the planning condition which could not be discharged until an agreement had been reached over the post-excavation, publication and archiving, including funding.
Total project budget – 47.9 million.
Archaeological cost as a percentage of the budget – 0.1%
Because of the live planning condition it was possible to secure funding for the publication and archiving of the site.
Local opposition to the development limited opportunities for publicity.
- John Moore Heritage Services 2009, An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment of Land at Barton, Oxford. Unpublished report.
- Cotswold Archaeology 2012, Land at Barton, Oxford, Archaeological Evaluation. Unpublished report, Cotswold Archaeology no. 12312.
- Toby F Martin and Carl Champness, Cultivating the margins: the Roman and early medieval rural landscape of Barton Park, Oxford, Oxoniensia forthcoming.
