2016:808 - HOLYWOOD: Holywood Nursery School, Ballykeel, Down

Archaeological investigations were carried out in advance of construction at the site of a proposed new classroom building at Holywood Nursery School, Co. Down in response to a planning condition imposed upon the development in accordance with Planning Policy Guidelines PPS6 BH4. A desktop study showed that the proposed development is both located within an Area of Archaeological Potential as defined by the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan 2015 and is situated 20m south-west of DOW001:001 a medieval defensive site.

Monitored excavation at the site proved that up to 1.2m of modern infill material overlying 0.3–0.4m of buried topsoil occurred across the site. As a result only those areas of proposed deep excavation beyond this depth, i.e. building foundation trenches, underwent archaeological investigation to the depth of un-disturbed subsoil.

No archaeological deposits or features were identified during the course of excavation works. It is therefore recommended that the proposed development proceed with no further archaeological requirement.