Many thousands of archaeological sites are affected by proposed development every year. Since the introduction of Planning Policy Guidance 16 Archaeology and Planning in 1990 the routine assessment of the potential impact of such development, and the funding of archaeological investigations by developers, has ensured that our most important archaeological sites are protected and others are excavated in advance of development, producing exciting new information about our heritage.
However, the planning system is changing. New ways to apply for planning permission, changes to the NPPF, and other policies may lessen the effectiveness of this system in the future. A new project – Archaeology and Planning Case Studies -being carried out by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, with funding from Historic England, is collecting information about the successes and failures of the present system. The results will be available to all involved in making the case for an effective planning system.
If you have experience of how archaeology is managed through the planning system (as an advisor, developer, landowner, member of a heritage group, or interested observer) you can take part by following this link to the survey, which also provides access to more information about the project, and guidance on how to fill in the survey. You can also contact the Project Manager, Jan Wills, directly if you’d just like to pass on information about a single case that has concerned or interested you.
Project Contact: Jan Wills, janwills@keme.co.uk