Site Event/Activity record ECH6964 - UK Geoenergy Observatory in Cheshire, Thornton Science Park, CH2 4NU: Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment

In 2021, an Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment, also a walk-over survey (conducted on 25th August 2021) were undertaken for an area of land in Cheshire for which planning permission is being sought for the construction of a Field Site for a Geoenergy Research Project to be operated by the British Geological Survey. The initial design for the Cheshire Observatory included a network of 14 sites in the Ince Marshes, centred around “Site A”, which was circa 2ha in area with 50 boreholes proposed, as well as associated above ground infrastructure and a telemetry mast. These locations are no longer under consideration and a more focussed Observatory design has been developed comprising one site located within Thornton Science Park (TSP). The TSP is a 25-hectare site that forms part of the University of Chester's estate which houses the universities research and innovation activity around sustainability, environment and energy. The aim of the Assessment was to determine the presence or absence of heritage assets and the character, survival and state of preservation of such assets on and in the vicinity of the sites. The study found that there are no registered World Heritage Sites, Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas, Registered Parks/Gardens or Registered Battlefields wholly or partly coincident with the Site. Additionally, there are no non-designated heritage assets (archaeological sites, find-spots, Locally Listed Buildings) so far recorded on the Cheshire Historic Environment Record. The potential for as yet unknown archaeological remains to be present at the Site has been estimated as low/negligible for all periods. (1)