Garside Sands, Eastern Way, Heath and Reach, Bedfordshire: Archaeological Mitigation

As initial groundworks had been carried out without the archaeological contractor being informed, three strip, map and sample (SMS) areas to test for archaeological remains were identified AW Group Ltd has been granted planning permission (CB/20/02970/FULL) for the construction and operation of an electric vehicle charging station and electric bus depot at Garside Sands, Eastern Way, Heath And Reach, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 9LF. Central Bedfordshire Council's Archaeology Team (CBCAT) advised that the Development Area (DA) may contain heritage assets that would be impacted by the development. In line with the National Planning Policy Framework, the CBCAT recommended that a condition (12) should be attached to the planning permission, requiring a scheme of archaeological fieldwork followed by post-excavation analysis and publication. Albion Archaeology was commissioned by Abrams Archaeology on behalf of AW Group Ltd to undertake a combined programme of Strip, Map and Sample (SMS) investigation and watching brief. As work had been carried out without the archaeological contractor being informed, three SMS areas to test for archaeological remains were identified and agreed with the CBCAT. The archaeological works were carried out in five visits between 29th November 2023 and 18th January 2024, and were monitored on behalf of the Local Planning Authority by the CBCAT. No archaeological features or deposits were identified and no artefacts were recovered. Overall, the results of the archaeological mitigation revealed a landscape that has been subject to significant quarrying, levelling and landscaping in the modern period. The revealed deposits have no potential to address national or regional research objectives.