Archaeology and the Planning Process
In
1990, the government published its Planning Policy Guidance Note No 16
(PPG16) on Archaeology and Planning. For the first time, this
placed the responsibility for investigating and clearing archaeological
remains occurring on building sites, both large and small, on the
shoulders of the developer (multi-national corporations and
householders alike). From that time on, local planning authorities
started attaching archaeological conditions to planning consent.
An
archaeological condition on the planning consent for a proposed development need not be a
daunting experience. The Heritage Network has prepared the following notes to help guide you through
the the process leading to the condition being discharged.
Local Planning Authorities use planning conditions to protect archeological remains either by preserving them In Situ or preserving them By Record.
Local Planning Authorities use planning conditions to protect archeological remains either by preserving them In Situ or preserving them By Record.
Since
1990, archaeology has formed a material element in the consideration of
planning applications by local authorities. If development has been
proposed in an area where archaeological remains are known or
suspected to survive, the local authority may ask the developer
to investigate this further. A preliminary evaluation may lead to a
more detailed excavation, or the design of a mitigation strategy to
protect as much archaeology as possible beneath the foundations of the
new development.
The Heritage Network specialises in providing tailor-made solutions to meet local authority planning conditions.
The Heritage Network specialises in providing tailor-made solutions to meet local authority planning conditions.
The
Heritage Network provides
consultancy and contract services covering archaeology and the historic
environment. We offer clients a complete package designed to meet all
the requirements of the archaeological condition, from the preparation of a Project Design, to the publication of the final report.
The Local Authority may require a programme of work divided into several stages.
The
size of an archaeological project, and therefore its cost, is dependent
on the extent and nature of the remains which are present, and the
effect which the proposed development is likely to have on them. An
archaeological project will often require a series of stages to
investigate the nature of the archaeological risk, and to establish an
appropriate methodology to approach and deal with it.
Preliminary Work
The
extent of the works required by the Planning Authority will normally be
defined in a brief prepared by its archaeological advisers. There may be a separate brief for
each separate stage of an archaeological investigation.
The Project Design, prepared by the Heritage Network, forms a specification for the works which will be
carried out to meet the requirements of the Brief. It must be approved
by the planning authority, and forms the Written Scheme of
Investigation which is usually specified in the wording of the
condition.
A Desk-Based Assessment is often necessary before fieldwork goes ahead in order to collate the known information about a site from existing databases, historical maps, aerial photographs and other sources. The assessment clarifies the archaeological potential of a site, and considers the archaeological risk faced by the development.
A Desk-Based Assessment is often necessary before fieldwork goes ahead in order to collate the known information about a site from existing databases, historical maps, aerial photographs and other sources. The assessment clarifies the archaeological potential of a site, and considers the archaeological risk faced by the development.
Fieldwork
Field Survey allows
the archaeological potential of a site to be assessed in the field
using non-destructive means. Surface and sub-surface features can be
located and mapped using a variety of survey techniques, including fieldwalking and geophysics.
Results
The archive and report preparation phase brings together all the data from a project including written, drawn and photographic records, and the artefacts and samples removed in the course of excavation. This data forms the site archive and is the basis for the detailed report which must be presented to the planning authority. The archive must normally be deposited with a local museum for posterity.
Publication is an essential element of a project. Archaeology forms part of the public heritage and its results must be published in an accessible form. Depending on the nature of the project publication might take the form of a note in a local or national journal for a watching brief, or a full scale monograph for a larger and more complicated site. In some cases, publication on the internet, through the Archaeology Data Service, is considered acceptable.
A Field Evaluation allows
the established potential for a site to be tested by the excavation of
trial trenches or test pits, focussing on the areas which will be
most affected by construction. Any features or deposits observed in the
trenches must be investigated by hand and recorded to establish their
nature, date and significance.
Open-Area Excavation
may be required where a high level of archaeological potential
has been established, and damage or destruction of the
remains cannot be avoided. The excavation will
investigate and record all evidence of past human activity. The site
will be preserved by record and the resulting archive will be deposited
with the local museum service.
Observation and Recording of construction groundworks may be required in cases where only a low level of archaeological potential has been established, or on sites that have been only partially excavated. Working alongside the client's contractors, any remains that are observed in the course of ground reduction or the excavation of footings and service trenches, are recorded with minimal interruption to the construction programme.
Mitigation Strategies seek ways to limit the damage to archaeological remains, caused either by development or by archaeological excavation itself. On some sites where the archaeological potential is high, a change in foundation design or layout could allow the archaeology to be preserved in situ beneath a development.
Observation and Recording of construction groundworks may be required in cases where only a low level of archaeological potential has been established, or on sites that have been only partially excavated. Working alongside the client's contractors, any remains that are observed in the course of ground reduction or the excavation of footings and service trenches, are recorded with minimal interruption to the construction programme.
Mitigation Strategies seek ways to limit the damage to archaeological remains, caused either by development or by archaeological excavation itself. On some sites where the archaeological potential is high, a change in foundation design or layout could allow the archaeology to be preserved in situ beneath a development.
Results
The archive and report preparation phase brings together all the data from a project including written, drawn and photographic records, and the artefacts and samples removed in the course of excavation. This data forms the site archive and is the basis for the detailed report which must be presented to the planning authority. The archive must normally be deposited with a local museum for posterity.
Publication is an essential element of a project. Archaeology forms part of the public heritage and its results must be published in an accessible form. Depending on the nature of the project publication might take the form of a note in a local or national journal for a watching brief, or a full scale monograph for a larger and more complicated site. In some cases, publication on the internet, through the Archaeology Data Service, is considered acceptable.
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