EHG6412 - DBA and walkover survey - proposed BESS, Fyrish

A desk-based assessment and walkover survey were undertaken by RPS Group in 2024 in advance of a proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) of up to 200 MW with associated infrastructure (including cable route to substation), access and ancillary works (including landscaping and biodiversity enhancement) on land 650m south of Fyrish Substation, Alness. The DBA drew together the available archaeological, historic, topographic and land-use information in order to clarify the heritage significance and archaeological potential of the development site. The assessment was prepared in accordance with relevant policy and guidance and provided a description of the relevant cultural heritage baseline, identifies heritage assets that may be affected by the proposed development, assessed archaeological potential, and identified the likely impacts of the proposed development upon heritage assets as a result of both its construction and operation. There were no designated heritage assets in the site. The main body of the site was visited on 9th July 2024 for which conditions were good. However,some areas were covered by tall bracken and long grass and in all probability, this vegetation would have obscured any upstanding features present. The one exception to this was the knoll, which was covered by short-cropped grass. Here there were rabbit burrows; the upcast was examined for lithics and other artefacts. None were noted. No heritage assets had been identified previously within the site. However, the remains of a former late 18th/early 19th century millpond located in the southwest corner of the site was identified. The millpond survived as a damp hollow bounded by well preserved banks topped by trees. The availability of LiDAR data for the greater part of the site served to offset the limits upon the site visit to some extent, as substantial features would probably have been seen as features if present. A Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV) model indicated that, with two exceptions, the proposed development would not be visible from designated assets in the surrounding area or affect views of them that contributed to their cultural significance. The two exceptions were the Novar Inventory Garden and Designed Landscape and the Fyrish Monument, a Category B Listed Building. Whilst there was potential for the proposed development to be glimpsed in views from these assets or in combination with them, the site visit established that this would constitute a barely perceptible change in their settings that had no potential to adversely affect them. It was concluded that the proposed development would have no impact upon designated heritage assets. The remains of the former late 18th/early 19th century millpond located in the southwest corner of the site would be preserved in situ within the proposed development. The potential for unrecorded assets to be present was considered to be moderate in respect of the Prehistoric period as there was a background of chance finds of artefacts and burials in the area. The potential in respect of the Early Medieval, Medieval and Post-Medieval periods was considered to be low and in respect of the Modern period negligible. In the absence of mitigation, any archaeology present within the construction footprint would be removed or disturbed. This potential would be addressed through a programme of archaeological work as appropriate. <1>