Historic England has undertaken a substantial update to its guidance on Piling and Archaeology. The main reasons for these changes were to align the document better with the NPPF and with Historic England’s recent guidance on Preserving Archaeological Remains. The amendments place a greater emphasis on the importance of understanding the significance of the site (and the state of preservation of archaeological materials) and on avoiding or minimising harm to that significance.
Another difference is the removal of percentage figure for acceptable loss, as this fixed minimum was not really compatible with the approach outlined above.
The aim of the guidance is to highlight ways in which the harm to archaeological deposits can be minimised through looking for creative ways to protect the majority of the archaeological remains on this site. The goal is to help all sides achieve a situation where development can take place but the majority of the archaeological deposits of a site are protected.
Public consultation on the document started on the 1st July and runs until the 1st August. If you have any specific questions about the revised document please contact Jim Williams, the project lead for updating the guidance at piling@historic.england.org.uk.