Archaeology assessments
If an archaeological assessment is needed for a particular site when a planning application is made, we will:
- Advise the developer
- Give a brief of archaeological work to be done
- Supply a list of archaeological contractors capable of doing the work.
The archaeological contractor will prepare a Scheme of Investigation and send it to us for approval. We then monitor the work to make sure that it is done as agreed.
An assessment usually begins with a desk-based study. This will then be followed by a small-scale archaeological excavation, or ‘field evaluation’, and/or recording of above ground structures.
Following the assessment, we will discuss with the developer any requirements or potential for preservation of findings at the site.
We may give planning permission for the development, but attach planning conditions. These may include:
- Further archaeological work before the development begins,
- Archaeological observation during development
- Publication and analysis of the results
If nationally important archaeological remains are affected by a new development (whether or not they are designated Scheduled Ancient Monuments), then we will require those remains to be preserved intact at the original site.
