Conserving the legacy
The Royal Borough is fiercely proud of its cultural heritage, which includes many fine listed buildings and whole areas given the protection of conservation status. The borough has a long history of settlement, and the potential risks of damaging archaeological remains during the development process are quite significant.
If archaeological remains constitute an ancient monument it is important both locally and nationally that they are preserved. Some monuments and archaeological remains are scheduled under Part I of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979, and scheduled monument consent is required from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. English Heritage can provide advice in these situations.
Where archaeological remains survive, archaeological investigation and recording will be required as a condition of planning permission.
Legislation and best practice
Legislation
Code of practice
Code of Practice of the British Archaeologists and Developers Liaison Group.
A copy of this guidance can be obtained from the British Property Federation or the Museum of London
British Property Federation
35 Catherine Place, London SW1E 6DY
Tel: 020 7828 0111
Museum of London
Archaeology Service
Number One, London Wall, London EC2Y 5EA
Tel: 020 7410 2200
Information for builders and developers working on sites with archaeological significance
| Steps to take |
|---|
| Contact the Council's Department of Planning and borough Development to check whether any specific requirements have been included in the planning consent. |
| Ensure the destruction of archaeological remains is avoided. |
| Make sure arrangements are in place to deal with any unexpected discoveries. |
| Ensure the results and finds from archaeological investigations are subsequently analysed, interpreted, presented to the public, and curated for future use. |
| Give sufficient notice to the Council of significant construction phases, and use a Council approved archaeological organisation to retrieve the remains. |
| Fence off and protect areas identified for archaeological investigation and provide information about the location of potential contamination or live services to the archaeological organisation. |
| Observe the legal requirements if human remains are unexpectedly revealed, by reporting the find to the Police and Coroner's Office, and treating the remains and their location with respect. Please note that any removal of remains will require a licence for exhumation from the Home Office, Environmental Health legislation will also apply. |
| Finds of gold and silver must be removed to a secure place on the same day, under archaeological supervision, and reported to the local coroner within 14 days. If same day removal is not possible, the location must be fully secured in accordance with the Treasure Act 1996. |
Last updated: 29 November 2019