Early Stage Archaeological Pre-Application Advice
Place Services can provide direct pre-application advice to applicants to help resolve archaeological potential at an early stage in the planning process. This is specifically provided for archaeology because:
- The assessment of a proposed development site’s archaeological potential is often one of the earliest stages of the design and development process. As such, it is not often linked into a wider pre-application process with other specialisms at this early stage.
- Early archaeological advice is often required without the need for wider planning feedback.
- Early archaeological advice is sometimes needed on a quick turnaround to enable site surveys and field evaluation.
- Initial advice will sometimes require more than one consultation.
This initial, and direct to applicant, pre-application advice is only offered for early stages of the process and to explore the potential for archaeology within a site. Any advice which pertains specifically to details of a proposed development, and its layout, must be obtained via the Local Planning Authority (LPA). In this instance, an applicant will submit details to the LPA and we will be consulted by them for archaeological advice as necessary.
To facilitate an efficient process, we can offer early desk-based pre-application advice. This will be charged as per the table below and a single charge will include:
- Review of Archaeological Desk Based Assessment (DBA);
- Review of Geophysics Report or other non-intrusive surveys/assessments;
- Review of Written Scheme of Investigations (WSI) and Trench Plan;
- Review of intrusive archaeological fieldwork (trial trenching) report; and
- Whilst this initial stage of pre-application will not consider mitigation specific to a proposed development, it can provide feedback regarding items such as ‘exclusion zones’ or sensitives to development which may be identified from evaluation.
Please note the fee does not include Historic Environment Record (HER) searches, Archaeological Briefs or site visits, which are charged in addition.
This direct pre-application advice is offered on the basis that an adequate Archaeological Desk Based Assessment is provided at the outset, as required by the National Planning Policy Framework.
Please note, this pre-application service pertains only to archaeology and does suggest a development proposal will be acceptable. This pre-application services does not negate the need for any pre-application required with the LPA (that may also need to include archaeology).
Download the pre-application form.
Please complete the pre-application form and email to: historicenvironment@essex.gov.uk
