SDO15587 - Slaughtergate Farm, Gillingham, Dorset, archaeological desk based assessment

An archaeological desk-based assessment carried out as part of a planning application for the creation of a solar farm. There was a scheduled monument (Neolithic long barrow) and four grade II listed buildings within 1 km of the site and no known undesignated assets within the site. The site was bounded by hedgerows which could be considered important under the Hedgerow Regulations 1997 however they would not be affected by the development. The report suggests low potential for archaeological remains from between the Palaeolithic and Roman periods. There was moderate potential for Neolithic activity and possible evidence of agricultural practices from the Saxon period onwards. The study area had been regularly ploughed reducing the level of preservation of any remains. The author concluded that no known heritage assets would be impacted by the proposals, that the proposed development would cause very limited below ground disturbance and removal of the site from cultivation would protect any archaeology, and there was little likelihood of harm to any significant heritage assets.