North Uttlesford Garden Village, Essex

Oxford Archaeology East has been commissioned by Bidwells to undertake a desk-based assessment on approximately 466 hectares of land immediately north of the historic village of Great Chesterford (centred on NGR 552003, 244981), in order to assess the archaeological resource of the Site and the surrounding landscape.
The Site is bounded on its western side by the A11 (originally a Roman road), which is also the county boundary between Essex and Cambridgeshire. The northern and eastern limits of the Site continue to follow the county boundary, encompassing an historic deer park. The proposed development area is currently under arable cultivation.
Evidence for archaeological remains (in the form of Scheduled Monuments, cropmarks, findspots and sub-surface remains) from the Palaeolithic through to the modern period have been identified within the 2km study area. Remains of Bronze Age date have the most potential to be present within the Site due to the presence of a number of probable barrow earthworks across the western side of the Site. Of particular significance is that the Scheduled Monument of Great Chesterford's Roman temple complex is also located within the Site. This may indicate that there is also a high likelihood for Roman remains within the vicinity. The eastern portion of the Site is occupied by an informal deer park of likely medieval date. Historic maps show that field boundaries across the Site have mostly remained unchanged, meaning that there is potential for a preserved medieval landscape in this location.
Effects on the historic landscape need to be considered ahead of development, particularly as the proposed Site boundary contains a Scheduled Monument. The setting of these remains form part of this heritage asset that is of national importance and legally protected. Therefore there is a need to preserve the significance of this asset through appropriate treatment of its setting.
Overall, it can be said that there is a high likelihood for preserved archaeological remains across the Site and that the proposed development has the potential to adversely affect these sub-surface remains.