§ Baroness Anelay of St Johnsasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has carried out archaeological surveys by the County Archaeological Office and by English Heritage in respect of the sites identified for development as accommodation centres; if so, whether they will publish the reports; and, if not, when they will commission such surveys. [HL5812]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone)It is for the developing agency, not the DCMS, the County Archaeologist or English Heritage, to undertake archaeological surveys to inform proposals for development.
From the outset of the accommodation centre project, archaeology has been dealt with in accordance with government guidance as set out in PPG 16 Archaeology and Planning. At the site option screening stage, archaeology was one of many factors used to identify sites where an accommodation centre might be developed without significant adverse impact to heritage interests, to preclude other sites where unacceptable impacts would occur and to identify those possible sites where desk studies, field evaluation or other archaeological measures would be necessary.
Archaeological desk and field evaluation studies have been commissioned by the Home Office for the accommodation centres proposed at Newton, Bicester and Pershore. Field evaluation trenching has also been undertaken at Newton and Bicester, and is under consideration at Pershore.
At Newton and Bicester the results of the desk and field studies have been submitted as part of the planning notification process, and documentation for Pershore will similarly form part of the planning submission. In due course, if development goes ahead any archaeological investigations in advance of development will be published in accordance with government guidance and archaeological best practice.