EHG6245 - Walkover survey and heritage impact assessment - proposed asphalt factory, Fort William

A Heritage Impact Assessment, including a walkover survey, was undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group in 2024 with regard to the proposed construction and operation of an asphalt plant east of Fort William. The site comprised an area of c. 1.6ha and was in use as a helicopter landing and refuelling area. There appeared to have been a significant degree of earth movement operations undertaken at thesSite since the 1970s, with possible grading of the site, but it was not judged that the entirety of the site hds been disturbed. The assessment considered the potential for the proposed development to result in direct impacts upon buried archaeological remains which may survive within the site, and the potential for impacts upon the setting of designated heritage assets in the surrounding 2km Study Area. The assessment established that there was considered to be a Low potential for archaeological remains of prehistoric, Roman, early historic, medieval and modern date to survive within the site, with a Medium potential for remains of post-medieval date to survive. There was considered to be a Low potential for archaeological remains relating to the Second Battle of Inverlochy (Asset 14) to be present within the site. Furthermore there had been a degree of disturbance to the site during apparent earthwork operations undertaken from the 1970s onwards, the most significant aspect of which was the removal of a large proportion of a drumlin that appeared to have extended across the site from the east. The eastern extent of thesSite, and possibly areas of the northwest, west-most, and southwest portions, may still be relatively undisturbed however, so there is still considered to be potential for archaeological remains to survive. <1>