Aside from those acting in an official capacity for a government institution, names have been redacted from this email thread, for privacy reasons.
We have added highlights, and footnotes at the end, to draw out key points that you might find useful.
2026-05-22, from a Credenhill resident to Herefordshire Council Archaeology Department
Dear Mr Cotton,
This correspondence is to formally notify the Archaeology Department to a significant pre-application proposal for up to 250 dwellings on land immediately south-east of Credenhill Camp.
As this site sits within the direct landscape setting of one of the UK’s most significant Iron Age Hillforts, the community wishes to record the following points raised during the meeting on May 20th, 2026:
- No Statutory Consultation: The developer confirmed that Historic England has not been engaged regarding the impact on the Scheduled Monument.
- Undefined Setting: No technical definition of the ‘setting’ of the hillfort has been agreed upon, nor has any guidance from Historic England’s official standards been cited.
- Erosion and Pressure: The developer was unable to provide evidence or reports regarding the increased physical pressure (footfall/cycling) and subsequent erosion the monument would face from a development of this scale.
Under NPPF Paragraph 11(d)(i), the ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ is disengaged where heritage protections provide a clear reason for refusal. Furthermore, Herefordshire Planning has confirmed that a Call for Sites application exists for land to the West of Credenhill. A comparative assessment is required to ensure that any development in the parish follows a sequential approach, prioritising sites with the least harm to the Heritage Asset.
We request that the Archaeology Department notes these omissions and scrutinises any future Heritage Impact Assessment to ensure the protection of the hillfort’s setting, archaeological integrity, and overall experience is not compromised
[…]