Heritage and Public Amenity

In their initial responses to this proposal Historic England and the Dorset Council Senior Conservation Officer (Conservation Officer) noted potential impacts on the setting of heritage assets.

Powerfuel agreed to undertake a package of works to restore a number of heritage assets including East Weare Battery (E Battery), a Scheduled Monument, which is currently on the Historic England At-Risk register. 

Interpretation boards will be provided for the A-E batteries, the former detention camp and the non-designated Second World War features. The restoration will make accessible a number of heritage assets including E Battery and managed access will be provided for public interest groups and education visits. 

In October 2021 the Conservation Officer provided a full response to Dorset Council, confirming that he was satisfied with the proposed mitigation and that he supported the application and considered the restoration of E Battery and its removal from Historic England's At Risk Register to be a “highly significant outcome” that would offset the “slight” harm on the setting of local heritage assets caused by the ERF. 

Read Powerfuel Portland's ERF Proposal Summary document here.