2014:613 - COLERAINE (1 - 5 Brooke Street), Derry

An Existing Building Survey/Report on Archaeological Monitoring of Site works was commissioned by P&K McKaigue Ltd on behalf of the Coleraine Rural & Urban Network (CRUN), and relates to the proposed demolition of 1 – 5 Brooke Street, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, to provide for the construction of a three-storey community building comprising 2 retail units to ground floor with office and meeting spaces to first and second floors.

The archaeological works relate to a Planning Condition requested by Northern Ireland Environment Agency: Historic Monuments Unit (NIEA:HMU) under Planning Policy Statement 6: Built Heritage 4 (PPS 6:BH4) for archaeological mitigation associated with the proposed development site (Planning Ref: C/2010/0221/F). The Planning Consent includes the condition that an archaeological programme of works is implemented in accordance with Planning Policy Guidelines PPS6 BH4 to provide for the identification and evaluation of the archaeological remains within the site, for mitigation of the impacts of the development through excavation recording or by preservation of remains and for the preparation of an archaeological report.

An Archaeological Programme of Works (POW) was submitted to NIEA:HMU during 2010 by Gahan & Long Ltd. and approved by the Agency.  As per the agreed POW, an existing building fabric survey was undertaken by FarrimondMacManus Ltd. prior to the commencement of demolition works. No historic building fabric was identified.

Following the completion of demolition works, monitoring works were undertaken during September – December 2014. Removal of the floor surfaces and subsequent monitoring works revealed modern deposits associated with the construction of the buildings which formerly occupied the site. No archaeological remain, features, deposits or artefacts were identified during archaeological works at the site.