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 Historic England
Notification of Pre-Application Proposal: Land North of Granary Cottages, Credenhill, Herefordshire (Adjacent to Scheduled Monument 1005526: Credenhill Camp) and south-east of Credenhill Hillfort (Credenhill Camp).
This is a formal notification of a significant pre-application proposal for a development of up to 250 dwellings on land immediately south-east of Credenhill Camp, a major Iron Age Hillfort.
1. Context of Concern
At a public meeting held on 20 May 2026, the developer and the Trust he referred to, as their representative, James Spreckley, confirmed that:
- Historic England has not yet been consulted regarding the impact on the Scheduled Monument.
- No evidence was provided regarding increased physical pressure (erosion/footfall) or the definition of the hillfort’s ‘setting.’
- The developer is citing a ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ to justify the scale of the project.
2. Heritage Impact
The proposed site sits within the direct landscape setting of the hillfort. Under NPPF Paragraph 11(d)(i), the ‘presumption’ for development is disengaged where protected heritage assets provide a clear reason for refusal. The scale of 250 homes represents a substantial urban expansion that may cause irreversible harm to the setting, views, and archaeological integrity of the monument.
3. Unanswered Technical Questions
The following six questions put to the developer at the public meeting were answered with ‘no’, or left unanswered:
- Have Historic England or the council archaeologist been asked about impact on the hillfort, and will their advice be shared before submission?
- What evidence is there about increased pressure on the hillfort from more people, such as walking, cycling, erosion? How will its heritage be protected?
- When will the hillfort’s ‘setting’ be defined, and will that be agreed before impact reports are finished?
- What guidance is being used to define the hillfort’s setting and is this based on Historic England’s official guidance?
- Is there written evidence of Historic England being consulted already?
- What reports show how the impact on the hillfort’s landscape setting, views, and overall experience has been assessed?
4. Formal Request
Could we ask that Historic England notes this early-stage resistance. The community seeks to ensure that heritage considerations are fully assessed at the earliest possible stage of the planning process.
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2026-05-22, from Historic England to the resident
Dear [redacted],
Thank you for the information regarding the proposed development and your concerns regarding its impact on the scheduled monument.
I have passed your concerns on to our Inspector of Ancient Monuments for their information.
As the proposal is at pre-application stage it will be for the applicant to decide if they wish to seek our advice regarding the proposal prior to any application for planning permission.
Kind regards
Sofia Fazal
Business Officer, Midlands
Regions Group
Historic England
2026-05-26, from the resident to Historic England
Dear Sofia,
Thank you for your response.
I realised I had not attached the pre-application consultation material previously referenced, including the Site Plan and Executive Summary, which are attached here for completeness.
https://www.bbap.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/P03B-PROPOSED-SITE-PLAN-COLOUR-FLATTENED.pdf
We also wished to highlight concern regarding the potential impact of the proposed development on the setting, visibility, and remaining open views associated with the scheduled monument across the Wye Valley landscape.
Given the increasing national focus on heritage significance and long-term stewardship of historic environments, we felt it important that Historic England were aware of the scale and location of the emerging proposal at this early stage.
I have also attached guidance circulated locally during the public consultation process regarding material planning considerations, as there may be value in ensuring local communities fully understand the significance of designated heritage assets and their wider landscape setting when responding to major development proposals.
Thank you again for forwarding the information to the Inspector of Ancient Monuments.
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