Proposals to build up to 640 new homes could uncover significant historical remains, council officials have said.
A report from Suffolk County Council’s archaeological service states that the proposed development site in Halesworth has a strong potential for buried artefacts.
The site is planned for land south of the Suffolk market town, with access via the B1117 Walpole Road.
Hannah Cutler, an archaeological officer at the council, explained that the development would directly affect heritage assets because “the planned works will damage or destroy any surviving below-ground heritage assets within the site,” adding that without further investigation, the full extent of the impact cannot yet be determined.
Location plan for the land off Walpole Road
She said the site is in an area that could be favourable for early occupation and there "has been no systematic investigation of the area, but there are recorded find spots of medieval and Anglo-Saxon finds".
A scoping report for the homes bid submitted by Gladman Developments Ltd to East Suffolk Council said after a desk-based assessment that "effects on built heritage or archaeological receptors is low".
The approximately 51.8 hectares of land is currently classed as agricultural, and plans state the existing ecological features, like ponds and ditches, will be retained.
