The Archaeological Process as Part of the Planning & Construction Sector
Legal and Policy Requirements: Archaeological work as part of development projects is mandated by national legislation and policy, as well as local requirements. This means that for relevant developments, you must consider the potential impacts on both known and currently unknown archaeological assets.
Pre-Planning Considerations: Before submitting your planning application, identify any key designations within or near your site. These may include nationally designated assets like Scheduled Monuments or locally defined Archaeological Priority Areas. National designations are managed by Historic England, Historic Environment Scotland, or Cadw, while local designations are managed by the Local Planning Authority. If your site has any such designation, contact us early in the design process to avoid unnecessary redesign costs.
Stages of Archaeological Fieldwork: Archaeological fieldwork is typically conducted in two stages: the “evaluation” stage and the “mitigation” stage.
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- Evaluation Stage: This stage assesses the potential for archaeological features or finds at your site, examining their character, extent, density, and significance. Evaluation may include desk-based assessment, as well as on-site geophysical surveys, boreholes, test pits, or trenches.
- Mitigation Stage: Based on the evaluation stage results, a mitigation strategy is developed and agreed upon with the local curatorial archaeologist. This strategy aims to suitably and proportionately record archaeological features before they are impacted by development.
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Timing of Evaluation and Mitigation: Evaluation is often required to support a planning application, typically starting with a desk-based assessment. Further evaluation might be needed either before or after the application’s determination. A mitigation strategy is usually required as a condition attached to the planning consent.
