Archaeological Briefs
Place Services can provide briefs on request.
Archaeological briefs are provided to help steer future work in line with the development management advice our team provide to local planning authorities. They can offer clarity for an applicant on the scope of investigation required to meet the archaeological planning conditions of a development. Briefs may be provided to inform a Written Scheme of Investigation.
We may require appropriate levels of detailed assessment, for example Archaeological Desk Based Assessments and/or geophysics, to be provided to us. This is particularly the case if the brief is requested at the outset of the planning process.
We provide briefs for:
- Trial trenching (or test-pitting)
- Monitoring and recording
- Excavation/mitigation
- Geoarchaeological evaluation
- Aerial investigation and mapping
- Schemes of archaeological building recording.
From 18th May 2026, the charge to produce an archaeological brief will be £150 + VAT.
This fee will apply across all districts where Place Services provide archaeological advice to the local planning authority.
If you would like to request a brief, please email historicenvironment@essex.gov.uk.
