Representation by Historic England (Historic England)
- Date submitted
- 14 July 2024
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Historic England Advice - Our ref PL00790102 A46 Newark Bypass. The Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England (HBMCE) is better known as Historic England, and we are the Government’s adviser on all aspects of the historic environment in England, including historic buildings and areas, archaeology and historic landscapes. We have a duty to promote conservation, public understanding and enjoyment of the historic environment. We are an executive Non-Departmental public body and we answer to Parliament through the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Proposal The scheme is for the construction, operation and maintenance of the A46 Newark Bypass. viz. "The scheme comprises on-line widening, to the north of the existing route, for most of its length between Farndon roundabout and the A1 followed by a new section of offline dual carriageway proposed between the A1 and Winthorpe roundabout, where the new dual carriageway ties into the existing A46 to the west of Winthorpe roundabout. The widening works include earthwork widening along the existing embankments, and new structures where the route crosses the Nottingham to Lincoln and East Coast main railway lines, River Trent and the A1. The roundabouts at Farndon and Winthorpe will be enlarged and partially signalised, while the Cattle Market roundabout will be grade separated by elevating the A46. Access to the A1 to / from A46 will also be improved by upgrading the Brownhill and Friendly Farmer roundabouts." Representation Historic England has engaged in constructive preapplication discussions with the applicant as set out in the submitted ES Volume 6.1 Chapter 6 Cultural Heritage / 6.4 Consultation. These discussions have included the applicant's principal contractors, heritage advisors and the local authorities’ archaeological curators. We have advised broadly on the need for a robust and timely programme of archaeological investigation so that where possible impacts upon buried remains can be avoided. Or, if not avoidable then archaeological mitigation can be planned and budgeted for in an efficient and effective manner leading to the optimum return of information and understanding in the public interest. Our discussions continue as work progresses, it will be important to continue to make best use of the time between now and determination to maximise understanding and information. Where possible focussing first on areas of greatest archaeological and engineering risk. We have particularly highlighted the importance and sensitivity of the landscape of the seventeenth century Civil War (around Newark) including the setting of scheduled monuments, and the late Upper Palaeolithic – Ice Age landscape (by Farndon). We welcome the positive response of the scheme in terms of the location of temporary facilities near Farndon. The landscape around the rivers Trent and Devon has been highly dynamic and as such we have stressed the importance of deposit modelling to inform a structured understanding of archaeological risk and opportunity. Later prehistoric and early medieval remains have also been attended to through the process of archaeological evaluation and the iterative detailing of the scheme, we welcome this attention to our advice as it will assist both in the positive curation of the archaeological resource and the timely and efficient delivery of the scheme. Our ongoing discussions will also continue to include (amongst other relevant matters) the articulation of the scheme in relation to the setting of highly graded listed assets at Winthorpe. The applicants are we understand in continuing constructive discussions with the local authority’s conservation team as regards the grade ii listed Smeaton's Arches on the Great North Road. Please copy future correspondence to e-midlands@HistoricEngland.org.uk