Archaeology in Practice
Since the introduction of Planning Policy Guidance Note 16 in 1990 most archaeological work in Britain today is carried out as part of the planning process.
As well as providing archaeological advice on potential development, the Planning Archaeologists assess each planning application for its potential impact on archaeological remains. Each site is dealt with individually based on its archaeological potential, past site use and the proposed development.
Firstly, the potential site is appraised using the Historic Environment Record (HER). Depending on the known archaeology on the site or in the nearby area, some form of assessment may be required. This could involve a desk-based assessment, a geophysical survey or building assessment. If more information is required, trial trench excavation may also be required before the planning application can be determined.
If significant archaeological remains are discovered, the priority is to preserve them in situ. This can be achieved by sympathetic foundation design or amendments to the layout of the development, which would minimise its impact. If this is not possible, then detailed excavation, recording and publication is the next best option.
In other cases, particularly small-scale development, recording of archaeological remains during development may be advised. This is known as a watching brief and will normally be asked for in a planning condition.
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