What Should I do if I am a …

Developer

When a proposed development has a possible impact on known or potential archaeological sites, the developer needs to work with the Regional Archaeologist, SIC Archaeology Services, to ensure that the archaeology is adequately protected- ideally in situ, but sometimes by record.  

How to find out if your development might need to consider archaeology before you submit a planning application 

  • Contact Archaeological Services – if emailing, please include a location plan and outline details of what you intend 
  • Consult SIC Development Management  
  • Check Pastmap – this is not definitive and will not be sufficient alone for planning purposes, but may give you an initial indication  Pastmap | PastMap 

The Archaeology Service offers free pre-application bespoke archaeology advice which can help you shape your application for the best outcome for both you and the archaeology. 

Once the application is lodged, the Regional Archaeologist might ask for archaeological work to take place pre-determination  - ie: before the Planners make a decision on your application. You will need to engage an independent Archaeological Contractor to take this forward. This is most likely to be an Archaeological walkover survey, a Desk-based Assessment and/or an Archaeological evaluation excavation. The results of this and the advice of the Regional Archaeologist will influence the decision as to whether Development Management grant Planning Permission and will inform any condition which is imposed. 

Your application may be granted with one or more archaeological condition. This is frequently suspensive (No development will commence until…) 

Most commonly, the condition will ask for a Written Scheme of (Archaeological) Investigation (WSI). Requirements may vary from a photographic survey, to a watching brief or even total excavation. The WSI will be written by your Archaeological contractor (with appropriate qualifications, including Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIFA) membership, and experience) who will liaise with the Archaeology Service regarding the brief. A WSI is likely to be staged – for example, if a watching brief reveals archaeology, this might need to be excavated or avoided, and possibly later published. The WSI will contain procedures to be followed if this happens (the Method Statement). Once the WSI is approved, your suspensive condition can be discharged, but the WSI becomes part of your consent and must be adhered to.  

A WSI will detail: 

  • what archaeological work is required and methodology for that; how any remains discovered will be dealt with; how updates to the reporting process will be provided; 
  • how any archaeological remains encountered will be dealt with;  
  • how any updates to the WSI will be provided;  
  • the reporting process; and the potential for post-excavation requirement.  

The WSI must be submitted to the planning authority for approval before being implemented. The contents of the WSI must conform to the relevant national and CIfA standards and guidance. 

Post-Excavation Research Design (PERD) 

  • The PERD is written after archaeological works have taken place. It specifies work the analysis required on artefacts, samples, records, and details of publication and dissemination of results and archive deposition arising from the work. It will be written by your archaeological contractor 
  • This will include: a project design for the post-excavation work, a costed assessment for this work, and proposals for the publication of results. 
  • The PERD will be costed, agreed and secured between the developer of the site and the archaeological contractor undertaking the archaeological works on the site before it will be agreed in writing by the planning authority. The PERD must be submitted to the planning authority for approval.  
  • Once the costed PERD has been agreed, written confirmation must be provided to the planning authority demonstrating that an agreement is in place between the applicant and the archaeological contractor, committing the applicant to fund the post-excavation work and recording the agreed completion date.  

The developer is obliged to pay for all work undertaken by their Archaeological Consultant. 

The legal framework is set out in: