Cefn-y-Maes, Rhydycroesau, Shropshire Heritage Impact Assessmentre

In March 2022, Archaeology Wales (AW) was commissioned by Solarsense Renewable Energy to carry out a Heritage Impact Assessment in relation to a proposed solar farm development at Cefn-y-Maes, Ffordd Cefn-y-Maes, Rhydycroesau, Shropshire, SY10 7JB. The site is centred on NGR SJ 24391 31232 (Fig. 1). This assessment has been undertaken in line with relative legislation and planning policies and in accordance with the guidance set out by Historic England for assessing the significance of and managing change to heritage assets (Historic England 2008; 2015; 2017; 2019) and CIfA's Principles of Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment in the UK (CIfA, 2021). The proposed development will have a negative impact on the setting of both HE 1002933 and HE 1006263. Views west from both the sections of the Dyke will be affected by the solar farm, which is located on a prominent location on the opposite side of the Morda valley. The impacts of the development are partially mitigated by the alignment of the solar panels, which means they are not facing the scheduled monument, and by a new hedgerow to the north and northwest. Furthermore, as these sections of the Dyke are located on private land the impact on the communal value is minimal. The effects of the solar farm on the setting of the monuments are easily reversible. The panels will sit on the existing ground surface and be fixed using groundscrews, which will have a minimal physical impact on the pasture.