Archaeological strip for Merchant Place Developments on behalf of Hitachi
Client: Merchant Place Developments
Location: Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham, UK
Project description: Archaeological investigation and post excavation reporting to discharge a planning condition
The client met crucial development deadlines and Wardell Armstrong Archaeology was commended for successfully managing the perceived risks to the development.
Wardell Armstrong Archaeology were commissioned by Merchant Place Developments, on behalf of their clients Hitachi, to undertake a targeted archaeological strip, map and sample excavation on land at Amazon Park, Newton Aycliffe, Co Durham. This work was carried out prior to the construction of the new Hitachi Intercity Express manufacturing plant and followed a planning application to both Durham County Council and Darlington Borough Council.
The proposed development area comprised approximately 42.1ha of pasture land to the southeast of Newton Aycliffe Business Park, to the west of the A1 and the railway between Darlington and Bishop Auckland. Whitworth Farm originally lay within the central part of the site, but was demolished in the 1980/90s and there are no surviving surface remains.
Two iron age settlements and medieval remains
Wardell Armstrong Archaeology managed all aspects of the archaeological project on behalf of Merchant Place Developments from the production of the Archaeological Project Design and CDM Health and Safety Plan for the site, through to providing a 20-strong team of professional archaeologists to undertake the site works and liaison with the Durham County Council Archaeologist. Given that the application site was known to contain at least two Iron Age settlements, as well as medieval remains and a former post-medieval farmstead, our management and fieldwork was essential in terms of meeting development deadlines and controlling the scope of the archaeological works.
The successful co-ordination of the archaeological fieldwork ensured that the client met crucial development deadlines and Wardell Armstrong Archaeology was commended for successfully managing the perceived risks to the development. To achieve this WAA worked in close co-operation with the client’s own Consultant, Michael Ayres Partnership and The Colton Group, who undertook the ground works for the project.
Advantages to Merchant Place Developments
- CMD Management undertaken in house to meet Health & Safety requirements
- Negotiation with Durham County Council to ensure the archaeological requirements were met to discharge the planning condition
- Co-ordination of the archaeological fieldwork to meet crucial deadline for the commencement of construction activity
- Design and supervision of earthwork construction at the site
Images (above) show:-
- Excavation of Iron Age round house structures
- Excavated medieval horse skeleton
- Site setup with Hitachi Excavator
- Excavating post holes part of Iron Age settlement
- Bronze Age arrow head and flint blade
- Areas for Archaeological Strip Hitachi Rail Project 1
- Areas for Archaeological Strip Hitachi Rail Project 2
