A Cultural Heritage Desk-Based Assessment was instructed by ABEI Energy in support of an application for a solar scheme on land adjacent to Bridge Farm, Podington Road, Wymington, Rushden, NN10 9FT. The Site presently comprises two fields, currently under pasture. ABEI Energy have requested an Environmental Screening Opinion from Bedfordshire Borough Planning Authority (23/01270/EIASRC). The site is approximately 27.5 ha.. It is adjacent to a larger parcel of land, approximately 94 ha, upon which is planned a larger 49.9MW solar farm project. The East Midlands railway line running from Bedford to Kettering splits the land in two, and this Desk-Based Assessment represents the smaller of the two areas, to the north-east of the train line. An examination of data held by the BBHER suggest that there is a high potential for below ground multi period archaeological deposits of potential regional importance to be present within the Site, particularly those relating to the Late Iron Age and Romano-British Periods. These were discovered via aerial photography, and, depending on the placement of the solar array, these may obscure remains from view, and obscure any further cropmarks that have yet to be identified, particularly those that may reveal themselves in the coming years due to the changing climate. Therefore, it is recommended that further investigation of the site would provide a basis for a more targeted archaeological intervention and recording of any below ground deposits within the site. This intervention can be undertaken post-determination and secured via an appropriate Planning Condition. Overall, it is considered that the Proposed Development is appropriate and complies with the relevant national and local policies and in this respect the application should be granted accordingly.
Jade Franklin Kennedy (2024) studied this question.