The NPPF recognises that heritage assets are an irreplaceable resource and that they should be conserved in a manner appropriate to their significance.
Before submitting a planning application
The potential archaeological implications of development should be considered at as early a stage as possible in a development proposal. This will ensure that necessary archaeological work does not cause any unexpected problems, or introduce unexpected time and costs in project programmes.
We are happy to discuss the archaeological potential of any proposed developments and provide free advice on the archaeological requirements for projects. For large development schemes, in particular, we strongly recommend consultation with us before a planning application is submitted.
In order to understand the archaeological requirements for a project, please send details of your proposal along with plans to archaeology@suffolk.gov.uk. One of our archaeological officers will contact you with our advice.
Information to be submitted with a planning application
You may be required to include a Desk Based Assessment with your application, which summarises and interprets the available evidence from the Historic Environment Record and other relevant sources. Upon request, we can provide guidance on whether this document is necessary for your proposal and on the appropriate contents should an assessment be required.
You may also be required to include the results of field evaluation with a planning application. This could comprise a combination of geophysical survey, field walking or metal detecting, and trenched archaeological evaluation.
We will advise the need for pre-determination evaluation on sites where there is greater potential for damage to significant archaeological remains, and which have not been subject to systematic evaluation, such as those that:
- Contain or are adjacent to sites of significance recorded on the HER
- are in areas of known high archaeological potential, such as river valleys
- are larger sites which by their very nature have greater potential to impact on sites
On these sites, pre-determination archaeological evaluation to establish whether or not significant remains will require preservation in-situ, contributes to assessment of deliverability. It also de-risks projects by enabling informed assessment of the scale and timing of mitigation and investigation, appropriate to development impacts.
After submitting a planning application
We are consulted by the district council planning authorities about all applications that affect the area of a known archaeological site recorded in the County Historic Environment Record (HER).
We also check applications in areas of high archaeological potential, such as river valleys and town/village centres and any proposals for large scale development.
Where archaeological implications or potential is identified, we will recommend one of the following decisions to the district council planning authority:
- Pre-determination evaluation in line with paragraphs 194-195 of the NPPF.
- Condition(s) on consent to secure a scheme of investigation and/or mitigation (Standard conditions SCCAS recommends to LPAs can be viewed on The Archaeological Condition, but these may be tailored for individual developments).
- Refusal of an application on archaeological grounds or suggested amendments to proposals to avoid refusal.
How archaeological works are arranged
The SCCAS Development Management Advice takes you through the archaeological processes that we follow to ensure that developments are delivered in line with Chapter 16 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
