Enabling Development

 

One a Planning Permission is given, a list of conditions will be attached. On occasion this will contain condition/s related to archaeology. This can take several forms and we can resolve them all. Some examples include:

 

• Written Scheme of Investigation - WSI

This document is mentioned in almost all Planning Conditions related to archaeology. It is a written ‘scope of works’ not to be mistaken for the work itself. This WSI is needed in order for either demolition, enabling or construction works to begin. This document can influence future risks to time and cost, and key parts of each WSI must be site specific and bespoke to ensure the most appropriate outcome on each site. 

 

Within our price is resources for the agreement of the scope with the relevant Local Planning Authority. Having gained agreement to a reasonable scope it is then a relatively swift task to produce a compliant WSI. The value to the client comes in many ways, it is this document which must be adhered to throughout all subsequent stages of work. 

 

Types of mitigation fieldwork we Quality and Change Manage

 

• Watching brief

This approach often involves one archaeologist, working on a day rate as the construction works go ahead. This can have appeal for developers, it seems to offer a solution, to a problem as that problem becomes apparent on site. Also, with the work actually happening, developers are well beyond the funding, planning and access issues which can take so long to resolve ahead of work. However, this solution needs to be selected carefully, used on the right projects in the right ways. Watching brief in the wrong project is simply an ‘uncontrolled risk’ to budget and programme. In a time when controlling all risks as much as is reasonably practical – watching brief is an anomalous solution at times. That is why you need our experienced staff to help identify when it could work and when it is a risk – so you make an informed choice.

 

• Excavation

Is the condition which some of our clients need to fulfil ahead of development works. This is appropriate when certain types of archaeological remains are faced with removal/impact when land is being developed. We have experience managing these works to the appropriate standards both in the fieldwork stage and following that when assessment and analysis happens off site.

 

We place a high emphasis on managing budget and time. To this end, we communicate regularly with our clients and the archaeological contractors on site. We keep records and monitor progress against well established rates of progress for such works. We ensure that the written scheme of investigation (WSI) agreed for your works is appropriate to the condition and we that WSI into a series of research frameworks. If archaeological remains are sensitive, input may be needed from scientific advisors at Historic England, we have good experience in arranging and managing such input. We will help you understand each stage and advise when changes on a scheme may affect budget and programme.

 

• Historic Building Surveys

Are done using Levels 1-4 of the Historic England Guidance. We are experts at selecting the appropriate level for a project. Often several of the levels is appropriate and picking where/why and shaping the scope can save a large amount of money and time. We have vast experience in this area.