§ Lord Donoughueasked Her Majesty's Government:
On what grounds they can justify the recent planning permission to bury the remains of the original Globe Theatre without further investigation or documentation of this site; and whether they will call in the application so that the matter may be further considered.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage (Lord Inglewood)Planning permission has been sought from the London Borough Council of Southwark for the conversion of Anchor Terrace and the erection of a block of apartments on adjoining land. Anchor Terrace stands on part of the site of the original Globe Theatre, all of which is protected as a scheduled ancient monument. The proposals for which planning permission has been sought do not involve any disturbance of any of the remains of the scheduled ancient monument. The remains of the Globe Theatre were discovered in 1989 and subsequently excavations on part of the site were carried out. The excavated remains were fully recorded and protected with a temporary covering. Scheduled monument consent has now been granted by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage for the temporary protection to be replaced by a permanent covering, which is considered to be the best method of preserving the site. This is in accordance with government policy set out in PPG 16Archaeology and Planning, and advice received from English Heritage.