Archaeological planning advice

Our role

We advise the following planning authorities in Gloucestershire on the archaeological implications of development:

• Gloucestershire County Council
• Cheltenham Borough Council
• Cotswold District Council
• Forest of Dean District Council
• Stroud District Council
• Tewkesbury Borough Council

For planning advice within Gloucester City please click here.

How we can help you

Pre-application assessment - Identifying the archaeological implications of development

National planning policy states that planning authorities should require an applicant to describe the significance of any heritage assets affected by a development proposal, including any contribution made by their setting, before a planning application is determined. Find out more: National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

It is best to contact us at the pre-application stage (before you have finalised your development plans) with details of your development site and brief description of what you are planning to do, we can check if there are likely to be any issues, and if so, what steps you should take next. These may include:

• Commissioning of an archaeological assessment (desk-based information).
• Commissioning of field evaluation (survey or sample excavation on site).
• Seeking other permissions if your development affects a Scheduled Monument, Listed Building, Registered Battlefield or Registered Park or Garden.

You will need a brief outlining the scope of assessment and evaluation required prior to commissioning an archaeological contractor to undertake the work. Please see 'Paid Archaeological Advice' below.

This information will help the planning authority to assess the implications, if any, of your development.

Please allow us up to 15 working days to respond to your enquiry.

Planning permission conditions relating to archaeology

Sometimes permission to develop may be refused because of the impact on archaeology. More often permission is given with a planning condition that requires you to undertake some archaeological work, either before you start, or during the development.

The most common condition is as follows:

No development or preparatory groundworks shall take place until an archaeological project design has been submitted to and approved in writing by the planning authority.

The archaeological project design shall be prepared by the archaeological contractor and include a timetable and the following components (the completion of each to the satisfaction of the planning authority will result in a separate confirmation of compliance for each component): -.

1. 1. 1. Fieldwork investigation and/ or preservation in situ of archaeological remains;
         
         
      2. a post-excavation assessment report and an updated project design for the analytical work - to be submitted for approval within six months of the completion of fieldwork, unless otherwise agreed with the planning authority archaeological adviser;
         
         
      3. a programme of analysis, production of an archive report and submission of a publication synopsis and preparation of a publication report to be completed within two years of the approval of the updated project design, unless otherwise agreed with the planning authority archaeological adviser; and
         
         
      4. deposition of the physical archive with a museum or store approved by the planning authority, unless otherwise agreed, and deposition of the digital archive with the Archaeology Data Service (or other CoreTrustSeal repository) to be completed within two years of the approval of the updated project design

The archaeological strategy outlined in the project design shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details and timings.

You will require a brief outlining the scope of the archaeological programme of work required by the condition prior to commissioning an archaeological contractor to undertake the work. Please see 'Paid Archaeological Advice' below.

A list of UK-based archaeological contractors who can undertake the programme of work and are Registered Archaeological Organisations with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists is available at: Find Registered Organisations | CIfA. Whilst we recommend that you use an RO, this is not a requirement. 

For enquiries contact: archaeology.planning.advice@gloucestershire.gov.uk

We are a Chartered Institute for Archaeologists Registered Organisation