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Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton Minerals and Waste
Local Plan: |
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Archaeology
Policy 11: Where proposed minerals or waste development would affect a nationally important archaeological site or monument or its setting, whether scheduled or not, in determining applications for planning permission the Mineral and Waste Planning Authorities will have regard to the presumption in favour of the preservation of the site or monument in situ.
Policy 12: Where there is evidence that archaeological remains, the extent and importance of which are unknown, may exist within the site of a proposal for minerals or waste development, an application for planning permission will be required to be accompanied by an appropriate archaeological field assessment, the results of which will be weighed against the need for the development and any harm it would cause.
Policy 13: Where the preservation of archaeological remains which are affected by a proposal for minerals or waste development is not feasible or justified, the Mineral/Waste Planning Authority will not normally grant permission for that development unless satisfactory provision has been made by the applicant for a programme of archaeological investigation and recording prior to the commencement of the development and the subsequent publication of the results.
4.41 Archaeological considerations have assumed increasing importance in making planning decisions in recent years. This has been particularly significant for mineral extraction and the deposit of waste, where large areas of land are permanently altered. Archaeological remains are a finite and non-renewable resource, in many cases highly fragile and vulnerable to damage and destruction. In particular, care must be taken to ensure that archaeological sites and monuments are not needlessly destroyed. Only a small number of archaeological sites are protected as Scheduled Ancient Monuments under the 1979 Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act. The majority of sites have no statutory protection and must rely on the sympathetic application of planning and management policies for their survival and protection.
4.42 The desirability of preserving archaeological sites and monuments and their setting will be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications, whether the sites are scheduled or not. If preservation in situ is not possible or feasible, archaeological investigation and recording may be an acceptable alternative. The Mineral and Waste Planning Authorities will secure provision for archaeological investigation and recording either through conditions or a legal agreement. The Mineral and Waste Planning Authorities may refuse planning permission in cases where applicants do not seek to protect or accommodate archaeological remains. In considering archaeological matters in relation to planning applications for minerals and waste development, the Mineral and Waste Planning Authorities will have particular regard to the guidelines set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note No. 16 (PPG16) - 'Archaeology and Planning' (November 1990) and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) 'Code of Practice for Mineral Operators'.
