Langley Business Park, Langley Road, Langley, Macclesfield, Cheshire, Archaeological Watching Brief Report

Oxford Archaeology (OA) North was commissioned by Lanpro Services on behalf of Seddon Construction to undertake an archaeological watching brief in advance of a proposed mixed-use residential and light-industrial development
at Langley Business Park, Langley Road, Langley, Macclesfield, Cheshire (NGR: SJ 94017 71380). The proposed development was being undertaken as condition 19 of outline planning permission (11/2340M). Cheshire Archaeology Planning Advisory Service (CAPAS), advisors to the local planning authority, Cheshire East Council (CEC), recommended that archaeological mitigation on the development take the form of a targeted watching brief during groundworks. A
written scheme of investigation was produced by CgMs for desk-based assessment, building recording and watching brief in 2017. The written scheme of investigation was followed by the production of an addendum with an update of the methodology for the building recording and watching brief following the production of the desk-based assessment. OA North was subsequently commissioned by Lanpro Services on behalf of Seddon Construction in October 2022 to undertake the watching brief, which was completed in a single day on
1st November 2022.
Prior to OA North deployment, the client identified that works on site had already commenced, with the site visit on 1st November 2022 being to identify what had already been completed and what, if anything, remained. As such, it
was identified that the bulk of the site to be monitored had been fully excavated, with the only archaeological structures remaining comprising a retaining wall to the reservoir along the southern limit of the site, and a culverted mill race, which were to remain in-situ. Discussions between the client and the development
management archaeologist at CAPAS determined that no further archaeological monitoring would be required on the site.