Planning and Archaeology Problem

20400keith

Help....

I've been given Planning Permission to erect a double garage. The problem is a condition that requires an archaeological survey before any work begins (Roman remains have been found locally).

The quote for this survey is in excess of £5000.

I'm told there's no financial assistance available, I cannot use student archaeologists, if the survey uncovers significant remains I can be stopped from building.

My house is listed so the requirements for the garage have already added thousands to the cost. A further £5k makes the project untenable.

Any advice please?

tyadog

Hi there

As it happens I have worked as an archaeologist for a planning authority for a number of years. Such planning conditions are not unusual in the circumstance. The basic principle here is that of "polluter pays" hence why there is not normally any funding available to help with such costs. Government policy is that archaeological remains once destroyed cann't be replaced, therefore need to be fully recorded if they are to be adversely affected. However, if an applicant called me to say that such a survey had been priced at over £5k I'd be a little taken aback but I obviosuly don't know the details of your case.

Firstly, has your planning department provided you with a "brief" or "specification" for the work? If they haven't then ask for one, in order that you have a specification to get quotes against. If there is no specification, your quote may be for a rolls royce job when a mini might do if you get my drift. Depending on what the specification includes in terms of requirements, this can make a huge difference to the costs. If no specification has been supplied, the planning department will expect your archaeologist to come up with a "written scheme of investigation" before any work is undertaken, and the scheme will need to be approved as suitable by the authority. If you have a specification I'd be happy to take a look at it for you, or to look at the proposal from the company which has given you a quote.

Secondly, have you gone to more than one archaeological company for a price? Prices can vary hugely depending on which company you use. I don't know where you are in the country, but if you can tell me your county/are then i might be able to find you some more contacts? £5k does sound a lot for such an investigation for a garage so I would have thought it might be possible to reduce costs. Its often a lot cheaper to use small firms, or even self empolyed individuals.

Students can't be used as they aren't professional archaeologists - same principle as only using CORGI registered companies for gas works.

Also, if significant remains are found then these can often be dealt with, either by full excavation, or by "sealing" the remains under a raft type foundation which does not involve significant intrusion ie digging into the archaeological remains below.

Hope this helps as a starting point, do come back to me with any more information and I will see what I can do to advise or help more

Doozergirl

There really is someone to help everyone here. I love this place!

happyhappyshopper

how is the archaeological issue going?

brownbake

We had a similar issue when trying to erect a tent. The council said that ant remains may be disturbed and we may be causing damage to a potential world heritage site. They said they would send their own team but when we arrived back the heritage site and half our house had been blown up.

We were fined for wasting the councils time and had to pay for a nuclear clean up team as they had contaminated 4 square miles because they used an old Trident missile for the "gentle excavation" Hope this helps.

swake

ill take some of what brownbake has been smoking please :j