Contact:
  • Archaeology
  • Address:
    Planning Services,Trimbridge House, Trim Street, Bath, BA1 2DP
  • E-mail:
    archaeology@bathnes.gov.uk
  • Telephone:
    01225-477651
  • Fax:
    01225-477641
  • Minicom:
    01225-477535
  • Page Updated:
    14/09/2007
  • Author:
    Abigail Harrap
A to Z Index

Archaeology in Bath & North East Somerset:

Supplementary Planning Guidance, page 10 of 10

APPENDIX 1 POLICY

1.0 National Policy

1.1    Since 1990, when the White Paper, This Common Inheritance was published, the Government has been committed to policies which seek to ensure the conservation and enhancement of our cultural heritage, including the natural and built environment.  PPG13, also published in 1990 deals specifically with archaeology and planning.  PPG15 deals primarily with listed buildings and conservation areas but also covers the historic landscape, historic battlefields, historic parks and gardens and world heritage sites.  PPG15 also makes reference to archaeological issues relating to listed buildings.  The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act, 1979 deals with scheduled ancient monuments (see 5.2 below).

2.0 Structure Plan Policy

2.1    The Joint Replacement Structure Plan for the Unitary Authorities of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset was adopted in September 2002.  The following policy is relevant to the built and historic environment:

POLICY 19 - Local Plans will, through existing national/international designations, and other policies and initiatives:

  • protect that part of the cultural heritage that consists of the built and historic environment of the area and manage development and land use change in a manner that respects local character and distinctiveness, ensuring that new development and other land use changes respect and enhance local character through good design and conform with any local character statement guidance produced locally;
  • protect Scheduled Ancient Monuments and other nationally important archaeological remains, which should be preserved in situ and their settings maintained and enhanced; and
  • require development proposals affecting archaeological sites of local importance to demonstrate an overriding need for the development, to provide for a mitigation strategy where necessary, and to provide for appropriate prior investigation and recording of the site.

 

3.0 Local Policy

3.1    Bath Local Plan, adopted in June 1997 contains the following policies relevant to archaeology and the historic environment.

Policy C27 - within areas of recognised archaeological potential shown on the proposals map, the city council will not determine planning applications involving work below ground level until the applicant has provided information in the form of an evaluation of the archaeological importance of the site, and an assessment of the archaeological implications of the proposed development.

Policy C28 - development which would adversely affect the site or setting of a scheduled ancient monument or of an archaeological site that is of national importance will not be permitted.

Policy C29 - in considering development proposals which affect sites which are found to be of archaeological interest, the city council will take account of the following factors:

i) the extent to which the archaeological interest would be preserved in situ in the proposed scheme or in feasible alternative schemes;

ii) the intrinsic importance of the remains;

iii) the significance of the remains in the context of the development of the city of Bath and its status as a world heritage site; and

iv) any substantial benefits for the community which would be brought about by the proposed works.

If planning permission is to be granted the city council will impose conditions or seek planning obligations to secure the preservation of the archaeological interest in situ or where this would be impractical or inappropriate, by record, prior to and during development.

3.2    The Wansdyke Local Plan Deposit Draft 1995 as amended and agreed for development control purposes 2000 contains the following policies relevant to archaeology:

Policy CH.1O - Planning permission will not be granted for development that does not physically preserve in situ Scheduled Ancient Monuments, or any other sites which may be of national importance, and their archaeological settings.

Policy CH.11 - Development which would harm important archaeological remains or their settings, including sites of Particular Archaeological Importance as defined on the Proposals Map, will not be permitted unless the importance of the development and the need for the development in that particular location outweighs the significance of the remains.  In such cases, where the physical preservation in situ of these remains is not justified, development will only be permitted if appropriate and satisfactory arrangements have been made for excavation and recording and publication of results.

         3.3    Bath & North East Somerset Local Plan including waste and minerals policies Revised Deposit Draft 2003 as approved for used for Development Control purposes contains the following policies:

 Policy BH.11 – Development which would adversely affect Scheduled Ancient Monuments or any other sites of national importance, and their settings and does not preserve such sites in situ will not be permitted.

Policy BH.12 – Development which would harm important archaeological remains or their settings outside the scope of Policy BH.11 will not be permitted unless the adverse impact of the development proposal on the remains can be mitigated.

Policy BH.13 – Development which adversely affects significant archaeological remains within Bath will not be permitted unless the preservation in situ of these remains can be achieved through a detailed design and construction scheme.