AI’s archeological analysis & report for Hillhead more than THREE YEARS LATE

Aggregate Industries finds it difficult to stick to planning conditions – as we have previously posted here, here, here, here, here, here and here. 

Condition 12 for Aggregate Industries’ Houndaller quarry at Hillhead near Uffculme in Devon states: 

RECORDING OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORIC FEATURES 

No topsoil stripping shall be undertaken in Working Phases 6, 7 and 8, as shown on drawings nos. 2285/ROMP/3C and 2285/ROMP/73D, until the applicant has secured the implementation of a programme of archaeological work in accordance with a written scheme of investigation which has been submitted by the applicant and approved by the Mineral Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out at all times in strict accordance with the approved scheme, or such other details as may be subsequently agreed in writing by the Mineral Planning Authority. 

Reason: To ensure that an appropriate record is made of archaeological evidence that may be affected by the development in accordance with the Development Plan specifically Devon Minerals Plan Policy M19.

Why is this condition important? 

In 2016, Devon County Council’s Senior Historic Environment Officer wrote: 

…the [geophysical] survey did identify anomalies that have the appearance of land divisions and may be associated with former prehistoric or Romano-British field systems. The expansion of the quarry into these areas will destroy these heritage assets. … 

Based on the results of this initial stage of works the requirement and scope of any further archaeological mitigation can be determined and implemented either in advance of or during construction works. This archaeological mitigation work may take the form of full area excavation in advance of groundworks or the monitoring and recording of groundworks associated with the construction of the proposed development to allow for the identification, investigation and recording of any exposed archaeological or artefactual deposits. The results of the fieldwork and any postexcavation analysis undertaken would need to be presented in an appropriately detailed and illustrated report.

The initial archaeological fieldwork was completed in 2019, so where’s the analysis and report? How do we know what’s been destroyed? Devon County Council’s latest monitoring report for the site says the report should have been "completed within 3 months following the completion of fieldwork": 

Comments/ Course of Action: 

Written Scheme of Investigation entitled ‘Western Extension of Houndaller (Hillhead) Quarry, Phases 6, 7 and 8, Uffculme, Devon - Project specification for an archaeological excavation’ dated 18th April 2019 - approved on 14 May 2019. Soil stripping on Phase 6 commenced on 12 August 2019 and archaeological investigation was complete. The archaeological investigation for Phase 7 is complete, however, post-excavation analysis, reporting and archive is yet to be completed. The agreed Written Scheme of Investigation states that this will be completed within 3 months following the completion of fieldwork. The operator has confirmed that this is anticipated to be completed within 3-4 months. Therefore, this should be completed within 4 months, by 13 July 2023.

As of last week, MORE THAN THREE YEARS LATE, Aggregate Industries has still not done the work, with the Council’s Senior Historic Environment Officer, writing: 

the post-excavation assessment, analysis, reporting and archive creation and disposition has yet to be undertaken. 

What hope, therefore, for the plethora of conditions for Straitgate Farm?