Archaeology - consultancy and advice

There are many threats to the historic environment in both our towns and countryside, particularly from development and changes of land use. Archaeological remains are vulnerable to destruction from urban and rural development, road and pipeline construction, mineral extraction, forestry and agriculture. Their protection must be balanced against the need for economic growth and development.

Designated Sites

A small proportion of sites of national archaeological importance have statutory protection as Scheduled Monuments under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. For works which are proposed on these designated sites, Scheduled Monument Consent may be required from the Department for Culture Media and Sport. English Heritage acts as Government advisor on such archaeological matters, and should be contacted for advice and guidance if you are considering, or intending to carry out works which affect a Scheduled Monument. Information on designated sites in the County is available from the North Yorkshire Historic Environment Record, more details about which can be found via the navigation link to the left of this page.

Non-Designated Sites

For non-designated sites, the Historic Environment Team can provide information and advice on the protection and management of the archaeological resource. It does so to a wide range of people and organisations, including utility companies, farmers, landowners and public bodies.

Information about management advice for the rural environment can be found on the rural archaeology web page, which can be accessed via the navigation link to the left of this page.

Other protection is provided through the planning process. National guidance has been issued in the form of Planning Policy Guidance notes 15 and 16: Planning & The Historic Environment, 1994 and Archaeology and Planning, 1990.

Archaeological remains are a material consideration in the planning process. The Historic Environment Team seeks to prevent the unnecessary loss of archaeology through development, and does so by provision of information and advice to the seven District Councils and North Yorkshire County Council. 

An initial consultation of the Historic Environment Record will show whether there are any known, or likely, archaeological remains within, or adjacent to, a proposed development.