Roman remains warning issued for new housing estate

Roman remains could be buried under a site where developers want to build 80 homes, archaeologists have said.

Applicant Rosconn Group has submitted proposals for a housing estate on land north of Leicester Road in Sapcote, Leicestershire.

However, archaeologists have written to Blaby District Council’s planning department to say the area lies in an area of archaeological interest.

The site is located fewer than 200m (656ft) away from the remains of a Roman villa, which was first discovered in 1770.

The archaeologists, from the historic and natural environment team at Leicestershire County Council, said a tessellated pavement and building foundations from a Roman building were found to the southeast of the site.

More structural remains were discovered in the 20th Century along with pottery, coins and tile in the area of the former Calver Hill Quarry, they said.

The team said that considering previous finds, there is "good potential" for Roman remains to be found at the site.

Rosconn Group has already commissioned an archaeology and heritage survey of the area in question which would assess the nature, extent and significance of the heritage asset.

The move was welcomed by the county council, however, the group said it felt the limited scope of the survey "underplays the site’s archaeological potential for buried remains relating to the Roman period”.

Officials recommended a more thorough archaeological impact assessment should take place instead, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The site in question includes two agricultural fields with access directly from Leicester Road.

Rosconn Group said there is currently nothing of note recorded within the site by the county council's heritage team and that a geophysical survey suggested an "absence of significant sub-surface remains".

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