Archaeological evaluation recommended for The Triangle in Great Barton, near Bury St Edmunds, earmarked for up to 191 homes

An archaeological evaluation has been recommended for a village site earmarked for up to 191 homes.

West Suffolk Council-owned Barley Homes Group Ltd and Suffolk County Council want to develop 10.94 hectares of land known as The Triangle, in Great Barton.

Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service said the proposed development affects an area of high archaeological potential and would cause significant ground disturbance that has potential to damage or destroy any below ground heritage assets that exist.

It was commenting on an application for an Environmental Impact Assessment screening opinion over the development of the site, which is owned by both authorities.

A screening decision letter issued this week said an Environmental Impact Assessment was not required in this instance.

The site is agricultural land with a strip of woodland and bounded by Mill Road (B1106), The Street (A143) and School Road.

The proposals would consist of a hybrid planning application for up to 191 residential units, with an outline application for up to 151 homes including affordable housing, the safeguarding of land for a new community building, infrastructure, landscaping, car parking, cycle parking and other associated works.

There would be a full planning application for 40 homes under phase one including affordable housing, car and cycle parking, a new car park, access from Mill Road, internal estate roads, open space, sustainable urban drainage, a pond, play space and infrastructure.

The new car park would provide drop off and pick up facilities for Great Barton Primary School.

Land would be safeguarded for the expansion of the school, outside of the site boundary, via a legal agreement.

In a letter to West Suffolk Council, Matthew Baker, senior archaeological officer at Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service, said the area had never been subject to a systematic archaeological investigation and the character, extent and significance of surviving archaeology at the site had yet to be defined.

A County Historic Environment Record shows the presence of a Bronze Age lithic scatter within the site and further finds within the wider area of the site dated from the Bronze Age, Iron Age, Roman, Saxon and medieval periods.

The Archaeological Service recommended an archaeological evaluation of the site before the determination of any planning application.

It said a geophysical survey would be required in the first instance.

Commenting on the application, Great Barton Parish Council said it supported an Environmental Impact Assessment as the village already had an Air Quality Management Plan and any increased traffic movement would decrease the quality of air.

It said there was evidence of great crested newts in the pond at the primary school.

Asked about the next steps for the plans, a West Suffolk Council spokesperson said the next stage would be approval of a development brief.

A planning application has yet to be submitted.