Buckinghamshire Council has granted consent to the proposals by HS2 to cross the Scheduled Monument known as Grim’s Ditch near Leather Lane in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire.

The council’s consent was required, as Grim’s Ditch is a pre-historic asset of national importance that will be affected by the construction of the HS2 railway between London and Birmingham.

Grim’s Ditch is thought to date from the Iron Age (800BC to AD43) and is an ancient earthwork that stretches approximately 18km from Bradenham to Berkhamsted in Buckinghamshire.

In order to retain as much of the Scheduled Monument as is reasonably practical, HS2 Ltd has worked closely on the details of the proposal with Historic England.

Following the advice of Historic England, the then Secretary of State also granted approval for the proposed works and methodology to be used during the associated archaeological excavations.

An original Environmental Statement by HS2 suggested that HS2 would require removal of approximately 150 metres of Grims’ Ditch.

That was later revised so that in the approved proposals, the amount to be excavated has been reduced by half to approximately 75 metres.

The reduction in the amount to be excavated has been achieved by introducing retaining walls within the South Heath cutting.

These will support the retention in-situ of the ancient monument either side of the railway. They are engineering structures with a functional appearance and have the advantage they are situated within a deep railway cutting away from the view of the general public.

Full details of the proposed works by HS2 in connection with the Scheduled Monument known as Grim’s Ditch can be found on the Council’s website by clicking here and using application reference PL/24/1492/HS2.

In April, HS2 was granted approval to construct a viaduct at Small Dean just south of Wendover in Buckinghamshire, while construction of the 880-metre-long Thame Valley Viaduct in Buckinghamshire has passed the halfway mark

Whilst we are pleased that less of Grim’s Ditch will be impacted by the HS2 line passing through the area and that valuable archaeological information can be retrieved during the works, we bitterly regret that damage will be done to any part of this ancient monument.

Any potential adverse effects on the landscape character of the area would at least secure benefits to the Scheduled Monument and, on balance, the Council had to give consent for the proposed works.

Councillor Peter Martin, Deputy Cabinet Member for HS2 at Buckinghamshire Council