The Conservation Team are consulted about the
archaeological implications of a wide variety of land use changes
which are
regulated:
- planning applications
- agricultural grant applications;
- forestry grant applications;
- major road schemes;
- Hedgerow Regulations;
- Environment Agency schemes;
- the allocation of land for future development in Local Plans
and the County Minerals Plan.
Planning applications
Since 1990 the protection and recording of archaeology has
followed central government guidelines in
Planning Policy Guidance 16, Archaeology and Planning. Further
advice relating to listed buildings and the historic environment
can be found in
Planning Policy Guidance 15, Planning and the Historic
Environment.
The location of the known archaeological sites is supplied to
each of the District Council Planning Authorities. When a planning
application is received by the Local Planning Authority, and it
coincides with a known archaeological site, it is referred to the
County Archaeological Service for comment. In addition the County
Archaeological Service examines the weekly lists of planning
applications published by each Local Planning Authority and asks to
see any additional applications which may affect areas of high
archaeological potential, such as historic villages and towns and
river valley gravel terraces.
Where there is insufficient information on an area to make a
planning recommendation, an archaeological evaluation may be
requested prior to determination of the application.
The Conservation Team will recommend one of the following
to the Local Planning Authority:
- No objection, i.e. consent can be granted with little or no
damage to any archaeological deposits;
- Consent can be granted with a condition that:
“No development shall take place until the applicant has
secured the implementation of a programme of archaeological work in
accordance with a written scheme of investigation which has been
submitted by the applicant and approved by the Planning Authority.”
(paragraph 30, Archaeology and Planning, Planning Policy Guidance
16, 1990);
- Refusal of consent (this would usually only apply to nationally
important sites).
Archaeological
works
The Conservation Team will specify exactly what archaeological
works will be necessary to satisfy any archaeological condition
imposed on a planning consent. This specification can then be used
by the applicant/developer to gain a quotation from and appoint an
archaeological contractor to carry out the work.
Archaeological contractors must be approved by the Conservation
Team as competent to undertake the work. The County Council has a
contract Field team within the Archaeological Service who can be
contacted
here.
A list of registered archaeological organisations is maintained by
the
Institute of Field Archaeologists.
During the course of the works the Conservation Team will
monitor the work of the archaeological contractor to ensure that
the specified work is carried out in full and to the required
standard. On completion of the work and submission of a
satisfactory report, the Conservation Team will inform the Local
Planning Authority that the condition can be discharged.
Early consultation
Applicants should be aware that archaeological investigations
can have considerable time and cost implications. Prospective
planning applicants are strongly advised to contact the
Conservation Team at the earliest opportunity to discuss the
potential archaeological implications of any proposed development,
preferably before submitting a planning application. Early
consultation will ensure that any necessary archaeological work
will not create unexpected problems.
Contact details
Suffolk County Council Archaeological Service
Shire Hall
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk
IP33 2AR
Telephone or Fax: 01284 352443
Email:
archaeology@et.suffolkcc.gov.uk