heritage assets. It is important to ensure that resultant archaeological work or conservation measures are built into the overall construction programme.

based assessment (DBA), but it could also include recording buildings or general site- survey work. Where possible, it is useful to combine archaeological work with other investigative operations such as archaeological monitoring in combination with geotechnical surveys as this can provide valuable information for use by the rest of the professional team and for the regulator in deciding the planning application. In general, non-intrusive work will take place before an application to develop land is submitted (RIBA stages 0–3) and the fi ndings used as supporting evidence to aid the planning authority in reaching a planning decision. Intrusive investigation (RIBA stages 3–5) takes place at the site either pre-

Brief

determination or as a result of a condition on planning consent, and will usually entail ground disturbance. Archaeological excavations comprise site investigation works (evaluation or trial trenching), “full” excavation as mitigation, or watching brief, or a combination of these. Existing buildings on a development

site could be heritage assets, which might require protection during the construction work or recording prior to renovation or demolition (RIBA stages 3–5). Buildings, parks and gardens can be included if they have special local architectural/historical interest. Such “locally listed” features will be considered by the LPA when deciding planning applications and need to be identifi ed alongside other signifi cant

Table 1: RIBA Plan of Work 2013 and archaeological “stages” Strategy

Concept Project stage

Archaeolology stage

0

Strategic defi nition

Due diligence, options appraisal

1

Preparation and brief

Heritage statement, pre-application validation process

2

Defi ning scope of work

Defi nition 3

Concept design Developed design

Assessments: desk-based, site investigation (evaluation), heritage signifi cance, magnitude of impact

Design 4

Mitigation design

Commission 5

Technical design Construction

Implementation of mitigation design, conservation, programme of archaeological work, excavation, recording

Build &

Handover closeout

6

Handover and closeout

Preservation in situ, post- excavation assessment, updated project design, analysis, report

Recording of a Victorian gas regernerator at Network Rail’s Ashburys site, Manchester, in 2012.

Site assessment The more information that can be obtained about a site during the project planning and design stage (RIBA stages 0–3), the more chance there is of capturing and managing risk, especially where buried features are concerned. A DBA for the historic environment is one of the fi rst steps towards identifying archaeological issues and will often be carried out alongside studies being undertaken by other disciplines such as ecology, land quality and ground stability. Sometimes it will be useful to undertake geophysical survey work to aid in the assessment of the site. Information obtained during the DBA and geophysical survey can also be of use to other members of the professional team such as those responsible for ground engineering. The DBA and geophysical survey,

however, should not be used as a guarantee of the presence or absence of archaeology on a site. Studies that lack thorough research could result in a report that is misleading. Using the services of an accredited organisation should ensure a study that can be used with confi dence.

Site work (excavation) An archaeological DBA might result in the need for a fi eld evaluation (trial trenching) on the site. This is usually carried out before a planning application is submitted or determined, and is chiefl y used to ascertain the presence of archaeological remains at a development, their character, date and likely extent. This information is used by the LPA to help decide whether planning consent should be granted. Where consent is granted, the LPA

might attach conditions for further archaeological work to take place on the site, which could entail mitigation excavation for targeted features or large

> CONSTRUCTION MANAGER | SEPTEMBER 2014 | 47

Photograph: SLR Consulting