Land north of Crediton Road, Crediton Road, Okehampton, Devon
1 - Pre-determination assessment/evaluation identified significant new heritage assets
Pre-determination assessment/evaluation identified significant archaeology on the development site (i.e. the results created significant new knowledge), especially where none was previously known in the HER.
4 - Pre-determination assessment/evaluation led to a modified development proposal
Pre-determination assessment/evaluation results led to a change in the extent or design of development.
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.
Designated heritage assets with archaeological and historic interest Undesignated heritage assets with archaeological and historic interest
Outline application for residential development (up to 375 dwellings), primary school, retail unit and associated works.
The development site lies adjacent to Okehampton Roman fort that is a scheduled monument (NHLE no. 1015829), and a putative Roman road crosses the site. Aerial photographic evidence suggested the presence of other enclosures within the application area.
A desk-based assessment identified a number of undesignated heritage assets on the application site: a possible prehistoric enclosure, two Roman roads and a possible church site.
Geophysical survey and field evaluation were required and undertaken at pre-application stage. A second phase of evaluation was undertaken as part of a staged programme of post determination work – using a pre- commencement planning condition - to refine the scope of mitigation (area excavation) required and to be undertaken in advance of construction.
On the basis of the results of the evaluation the preservation in situ of the Roman road was recommended, together with the excavation of other archaeological features. The masterplan for the development has been altered to preserve the alignment of the Roman road as part of the development’s green infrastructure.
Archaeological excavation is advance of development has now identified the remains of extra mural settlement along the Roman roads. The remains of at least 25 timber buildings line both sides of a well-preserved Roman road, leading eastward from the Roman fort. The settlement seems to have been abandoned around the same time as occupation ended at the fort, c. AD 75.
There has been a public open day, and public interpretation of the results of the archaeological investigations.
- AC Archaeology 2013, Land off Crediton Road, Okehampton, West Devon, Historic Environment Assessment. Unpublished report ACD630/1/1.
- Substrata 2014, An archaeological gradiometer survey, Land to the north of Crediton Road, Okehampton, Devon. Unpublished report 140129.
- AC archaeology 2014, Land off Crediton Road, Okehampton, West Devon: Results of an Archaeological Trench Evaluation and Auger Survey. Unpublished report ACD630/2/1.
- https://www.archaeology.co.uk/articles/vicus-discovered-in-devon.htm
