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Archaeology and Planning
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Archaeological sites are protected through the planning process. District Councils are committed through their Local Plans to ensuring that archaeological remains are not thoughtlessly or needlessly destroyed by development.

It is often made a condition of planning permission that archaeological recording takes place as part of the development process. In some cases where little is known about the archaeology of an area archaeological work is required before planning permission is issued, to establish the importance of any remains on a site.

In some cases archaeological remains may be too important to be disturbed. In these cases it may be possible to modify design proposals to avoid buried remains.

In some cases planning permission may be refused on archaeological grounds.

Archaeology is managed through the planning process in line with government guidance.
Iron Age roundhouse at Ling Hall

Archaeological excavation of an Iron Age house


Romano-British wooden comb preserved in waterlogged pit

A Roman comb from Alcester



Circular brick kiln exposed in a trial trench at New Street, Bedworth

A trial trench containing a 19th century kiln





Archaeological evaluation in Flecknoe

An archaeologist exposing medieval remains in an evaluation trench.





19th Century Leamington Street

Later historic buildings in Royal Leamington Spa






The location of all known sites is recorded on the Sites and Monuments Record. This is a public record. Accessed through a computer and map based system, the record incorporates a wide range of sources, including aerial photographs, published and unpublished material and historic and modern maps. A simplified version of the Sites and Monuments Record is available on line. For detailed advice however please contact the planning archaeologist.

Applications for planning permission are assessed by Warwickshire Museum Information and Advice. Where a development is located in a particularly sensitive area the Local Planning Authority may require an archaeological site evaluation to be carried out prior to determination of the application.

In other cases developers may be required to undertake some archaeological work as a condition of planning permission. This may include provision to record buildings of historical, architectural or industrial importance and / or carrying out an archaeological evaluation.

Evaluation provides information about the depth, nature, significance and extent of the archaeology. This information is required in order that the impact of the proposed development on the buried remains may be assessed. Evaluations are normally undertaken fairly quickly by excavating trial trenches in areas likely to be disturbed by the groundwork.

Conditions of planning permission, issued by the Local Authority, may require developers to commission archaeological work.

The site owner and / or prospective developer is responsible for funding the necessary archaeological work.

The work must be undertaken by a suitably qualified organisation.

Warwickshire Museum Field Services Information and Advice will prepare a brief for any necessary site work. The brief will provide background information on the site area and identify particular considerations that need to be assessed.

The Planning Archaeologist can advise developers on the appropriate course of action for any particular development.

Warwickshire Museum Field Services is an Institute of Field Archaeologists. Registered Archaeological Organisation.

Interested in finding out more about archaeology? try these external links: English Heritage, The Council for British Archaeology,
Historic buildings under threat

Historic buildings recorded before partial demolition and conversion.



Archaeological recording

The detailed archaeological recording of a medieval metal working site before building work begins.