Predetermination
Where a development proposal is considered by a planning authority to have the potential to impact upon archaeology then they will require sufficient information from the applicant to inform their decision making process. Some developers may also choose to assess the archaeological potential of their land prior to developing development proposals, avoiding unexpected constraints appearing at a later stage.
The most common predetermination information gathering exercise is an intrusive evaluation. This typically comprises a sequence of linear trenches which are machined to identify the nature, form and extent of the archaeology present.
Other services that may be appropriate at this stage include desk-based assessment, landscape survey, building survey and geophysical survey. Overall the aim is to gather information to understand how a development proposal will impact on the archaeology; these works do not aim to remove any archaeology.
Where an impact on archaeology is confirmed the first priority is for the protection of the archaeology. Sympathetic foundation design or amendments to the development layout can often achieve this. Where protection is not feasible, then agreeing a programme of post-determination mitigation (excavation, post excavation analysis and publication) is the second best option.
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