Desk-based assessment - Land at Elm Park, Reading
Background
ADAS, commissioned by Reading Football Club, prepared a historic environment desk based assessment (DBA) to assess the impact development of land at Royal Elm Park may have on the historic environment resource. The development comprised the construction of six mixed residential and commercial multi-storey buildings on land adjacent to Madejski Stadium.
Scope of services
The DBA assessed the potential impact of the development on the setting and significance of all designated heritage assets in the surrounding landscape, including the Gradell listed Hartley Court.
Previous archaeological investigations close to the developments had demonstrated a high level of prehistoric and historic human activity from the Neolithic to the Roman periods.
The potential impact of the development on buried archaeological remains, which we identified during previous archaeological investigations carried out adjacent to the site was also assessed.
ADAS consultants worked closely with the planning team through all stages of the development from the initial project inception meeting to the submission of the planning application.
The final report included recommendations for appropriate mitigation measures to allow the development to proceed while minimising the impact on above and below ground heritage assets.
Status
The works were required and carried out in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF, 2012), paragraphs 128, 131-136, 139 and 141.