EHG6382 - DBA and walkover survey - Inverness Campus Phase 2

A desk-based assessment and walkover survey were undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group in 2024 to support a planning application regarding the proposed development of Inverness Campus Phase 2, Inverness. The work was intended to inform an environmental impact assessment. The proposed development area measured c. 56.5ha and comprised six areas as well as routes between these areas. It is located across fields, car parks and roads within the existing Inverness Campus to the south of the A96 and to the immediate north of the A9. The Scretan Burn crosses Areas 4 and 5, and the Inverness-Perth Highland Railway line separates Areas 4 and 5.The assessment identified a number of known heritage assets, largely of prehistoric date, within the site. Some of these had been previously excavated, whilst others had the potential to be impacted upon. The assessment further established that there is a High potential for further, hitherto unrecorded, prehistoric remains to survive on the site and thus be impacted upon. There was considered to be a Medium to High potential for post-medieval agricultural remains and a Low potential for all other remains to survive. One Scheduled Monument, Ring Ditch 415m SW and Pit Circles 460m WSW of Ashton Farm Cottages (Designation SM11535), is located in the eastern portion of Area 5. The exact magnitude of impact resulting from the proposed development would depend on the final development proposal and this would have bearing on the final mitigation proposals. However, it was considered that an archaeological programme of works would be required in advance of the construction of the proposed development. Considering requirements for past archaeological works on the site and the results of previous archaeological investigations, it was considered likely any such programme of works would take the form of an archaeological evaluation by trial trenching in parts of Area 4 and across Area 5, where no evaluation had previously been undertaken. If significant features were found further mitigation would likely include full excavation to be followed by a programme of post-excavation analysis including publication. The full scope and scale of these works would need to be agreed with Highland Council, as advised by the Historic Environment Team (HET) via a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI). It was recommended that any impacts upon the Scheduled Monument (SM11535 Ring Ditch 415m SW and Pit Circles 460m WSW of Ashton Farm Cottages) should be avoided by design and that a protective buffer is applied around the Scheduled area. The Scheduled Monument could be designed as one of the green spaces within the Inverness Campus and signs displaying information about the Monument, and other archaeological remains recovered from the site, could be displayed in order to promote public engagement. <1> <2>