EHG6448 - DBA and walkover survey - proposed Wick Business Park (Phase 2)

An historic environment desk-based assessment (incorporating an impact assessment) and walkover survey were undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group of a site to the northeast of the existing Wick Business Park, which lies to the northwest of the town of Wick. The site was situated over a former aircraft dispersal area for RAF Wick which was constructed in 1939, adjacent to the site of an interwar civilian airfield for Highland Airways. RAF Wick was predominantly used by Coastal Command, although fighter and photographic reconnaissance units operated from it. The RAF departed in 1946, and the airfield went into to civilian use, ultimately becoming the in-use Wick John o’ Groats Airport of today which stands immediately southeast of the site. The site itself is predominantly in use for arable cultivation, but the concrete trackway and several dispersal pens still stand. 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. Prior to the assessment, no heritage assets had been recorded within the Site. The desk-based assessment and walkover survey identified 26 non-designated heritage assets (Assets 62-86), comprising a post-medieval field boundary, nine dispersal pens (Assets 63-71; of which five, Assets 66-70, visibly survive), four dispersal huts (Assets 73-76), a defence post (Asset 72; survives in an indeterminate condition), an air-raid shelter (Asset 77), latrines (Asset 83), a windsock pole (Asset 85), a structure of unknown function (Asset 86), a post-WWII field boundary (Asset 87) and three post-war spoil heaps (Assets 80-82) likely comprising demolished remains of some of the above structures. The assessment established there to be a Low potential for remains of the prehistoric, early medieval and medieval periods to survive within the site, a Medium potential for remains of post-medieval date which would likely comprise agricultural remains and not exceed Low importance, and a High potential for modern remains that would likely relate to structures and finds associated with the WWII airfield and would not exceed Low importance. It was considered that the proposed development had the potential to have a high impact upon any archaeological remains, both known and unknown, within the site. A comprehensive programme of archaeological works would likely be required in advance of any such works. Depending on the layout of the final proposal, these works could include historic building recording (HBR) surveys (depending on the level of preservation of the defence post Asset 72, once cleared of vegetation), targeted archaeological evaluation and excavation, trial trench evaluation and archaeological monitoring. Additionally, impacts on the settings of designated heritage assets including World Heritage Sites, Scheduled Ancient Monuments, Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas, Inventory Gardens and Designed Landscapes, and Inventory Battlefields within 2km of the site were assessed. No World Heritage Sites, Inventory Gardens and Designed Landscapes or Inventory Battlefields lay within the site or 2km study area. There was considered to be the potential for Low impacts upon the Scheduled Wick bomb stores (Asset 1) and Neutral impacts upon the Category A Listed Ackergill tower (Asset 2) and Category B Listed East and West Ranges, Ackergill Mains (Asset 8). For all other designated assets, including additional Category B and C Listed Building s and one Conservation Area, there were considered to be no impacts upon their settings due to intervening topography, woodland and urban sprawl screening views. In line with NPF4 Policy 7o (Scottish Government 2023, 43), opportunities for public benefit and engagement were also presented. The scope and requirement of any programme of public benefit should be agreed in consultation with the Highland Historic Environment Team as advisors to the Highland Council, the client, and the contractor. <1>