Historic England urges refusal of house plans on Roman Bank in Leverington
A national body that protects historic places across the country has issued a strong objection to plans for 35 homes in Leverington.
Historic England has written a hard-hitting letter urging Fenland District Council to refuse an application by the Hickman Farm Partnership of Long Sutton for 35 homes on land east of 10 to 32 Church Road, Leverington.
The application, which has been submitted with a design statement drawn up by Maxey Grounds, has prompted a groundswell of opposition from local residents – among them David and Angela Kett, who are equally concerned about the impact the homes will have on Leverington’s conservation area.
All are concerned like Historic England about the impact the homes will have on the ancient Roman Bank as well as two scheduled monuments.
David said: “At the moment we can see across the field to Roman Bank – that is the view Historic England is concerned about. It will be lost if the houses are built.”
Roman Bank, which dates back to Medieval times, and was originally a sea defence protecting the land behind it from The Wash, would be less than 100m from the new housing. It is designated as a scheduled monument.
The application site is also in close proximity to Cherry Tree Hill, a mound which is also protected and has long been considered a Roman burial site but could also have other functions linked to The Wash, which at one point came right up to Leverington.
A second scheduled mound, known as Rabbit Hill, is located on Dowgate Road and the association between this, Cherry Tree Hill and Roman Bank can be seen by their visibility within the landscape.
Historic England argue the application will not only introduce a “development that does not reflect the historic pattern of development along Dowgate Road, but would introduce an intensity of building completely at odds with the rural and open character of the area”.
The body adds the council’s own conservation area identifies the importance of the open space between the three monuments, which “enforces the strong link that Leverington retains with its historical rural past”.
It adds that national planning policy states: “When considering the impact of a proposed development on the significance of a designated heritage asset, great weight should be given to the asset’s conservation.
“The more important the asset, the greater the weight should be. Significance can be harmed or lost through alteration or destruction of the heritage asset or development within its setting. As heritage assets are irreplaceable, any harm or loss should require clear and convincing justification.
“Historic England considers that the proposed development will adversely impact on the setting of both scheduled monuments and conservation areas in its vicinity.
“We consider the current proposal will be harmful to the significance of those assets, through the loss of the open and rural setting that is so intrinsic to their significance.”
However, Maxey Grounds’ design statement points out: “The site is outside the conservation area, and there will be thus no change to any features within that conservation area under these proposals.
“The application does not involve the site of any of the scheduled monuments in the area – Roman Bank to the east, Cherry Hill, a slight rise in the field to the north east of the application site, the Rabbit Hill to the west of Dowgate Road. The scheme has also been designed to minimise the affect on the setting of these assets, being located a suitable distance from them and seeking to retain the setting and views of them from the village.”
