Planning and Archaeology - Implications for Landowners
Policies towards archaeology are based on guidance given by national government within the document entitled Planning Policy Guidance Note 16 (PPG16): Archaeology and Planning.
Early consultation with the County Archaeologist and the Industrial Archaeologist is of enormous importance. They can provide an initial appraisal of the likelihood that archaeologically sensitive deposits need to be considered for any specific planning application, and give advice on the steps that may need to be taken at each stage of the process.
If a site is within an area of potential archaeological interest the applicant may need to provide the Planning Authority with information of the likely impact of the scheme on any buried remains. This is estimated from existing records, including historical accounts, and reports of archaeological work in the vicinity, in conjunction with a number of sources which suggest the nature of deposits on the site, like bore-hole logs and cellar surveys. This is presented in a standard format, known as a Desk Top Assessment...
The result of all the initial work is a Written Scheme of Investigation: - The Written Scheme of Investigation is a detailed document which sets out the precise work required, covering the area to be excavated, the volume of deposits to be recorded, the methodology employed, the degree of expertise required, the amount of analysis and research required, finds collection policies, conservation of perishable artefacts, the deposition of finds and archives and the eventual publication of the results. Such programmes are expensive and time-consuming, and represent to the developer a construction cost against which to balance the real benefits of locating in the historic centre of the town.
Pre-application enquiries should be directed to David Heslop, County Archaeologist via email at david.helsop@newcastle.gov.uk or by telephone on 0191 281 6117.