Environmental Planning Advice. Concern expressed by President of Essex Society for Archaeology and History to our local Members of Parliament

Adrian Corder-Birch, President of the Essex Society for Archaeology and History, has written to the following local Members of Parliament expressing concerns about Environmental Planning Advice.  We will publish any response received.

Sir David Ames MP

Mr John Baron MP

Ms Lyn Brown MP

Rt Hon Sir Simon Burns MP

Mr Douglas Carswell MP

Mr James Cleverly MP

Ms Stella Creasy MP

Mr John Crudas MP

Mr John Cryer MP

Ms Jacqie Doyle-Price MP

Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP

Rt Hon Mark Francois MP

Mr Mike Gape MP

Ms Rebecca Harris MP

Mr Robert Halfon MP

Sir Alan Haslehurst MP

Dame Margaret Hodge 

Mt Bernard Jenkin MP

Ms Eleanor Laing MP
Mr Stephen Metcalfe MP

Rt Hon Priti Patel MP

Rt Hon Sir Eric Pickles MP

Mr Will Quince MP 

Mr Andrew Rosindell MP

Mr Wes Streeting MP

Rt Hon Stephen Timms MP

Dame Angela Watkinson DBE MP

Mr John Whittingdale MP

Example letter

The Essex Society for Archaeology & History

FORMERLY THE ESSEX ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY FOUNDED 1852

Mr. Robert Halfon, M.P.,

House of Commons,

Westminster,

LONDON SW1A OAA

5th August 2016

Dear Mr. Halfon,

The Essex Society for Archaeology and History was founded in 1852 as Essex Archaeological Society. It is the oldest, largest and major society in Essex for those interested in the county's past.

England has a rich and varied historic environment, and that is especially true of Essex which has a wealth of archaeological remains, ancient woods and a distinctive historic landscape and settlement pattern, including many historic villages and towns. This complex historic environment is a finite non-renewable resource. Accordingly sustainable development requires clear advice derived from specialist expertise to assess impacts of planning applications and ensure appropriate mitigation of any adverse effects. The planning process is central to the effective management and conservation of the nation's historic environment. Since PPG 16 was issued in the early 1990s effective provision has been made in planning regulations to accommodate necessary archaeological investigations, mostly before the commencement of development and occasionally before granting of planning permission. These provisions have been preserved in all the changes to the planning process since then, and are clearly present in the current National Planning Policy Framework. This has greatly increased the effectiveness of archaeological work arising from the planning process, transforming our understanding of our country's history at local, regional and national level. The range and quality of the work carried out since 1990 reveals how inadequate archaeological provision was in the preceding decades. It should be noted that archaeological conditions are applied to such a small percentage of planning applications that they can have little adverse impact on provision of much needed infrastructure and housing development, yet their absence would have a crippling effect on effective archaeological investigation.

It appears that The Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Bill announced in the recent Queen's Speech may threaten the proper provision of archaeological investigation. Amongst the Bill's main elements are:

`Planning Conditions

• To ensure that pre-commencement planning conditions are only imposed by local planning authorities where they are absolutely necessary.

• Excessive pre-commencement planning conditions can slow down or stop the construction of homes after they have been given planning permission.

• The new legislation would tackle the overuse, and in some cases, misuse of certain planning conditions, and thereby ensure that development, including new housing, can get underway without unnecessary delay.'

These aims might well undermine the effective system of archaeological provision established over the last quarter century. There have been some recent comments from Government sources indicating that press suggestions that the Bill is intended to sweep away requirements that force developers to carry out archaeological work before starting housing projects, are incorrect. In addition Department for Communities and Local Government officers have apparently indicated that archaeology is not a target of the reforms on pre-commencement conditions. Whilst these comments are welcome and somewhat reassuring, the Society would like to know your views on these matters and would urge you to use your best endeavours to ensure that the Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Bill does not damage the highly effective provision for archaeological investigation this country's planning regulations currently provide. I look forward to hearing from you with your views please. 

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,

Adrian Corder-Birch, D.L., President

PATRON: THE LORD-LIEUTENANT OF ESSEX P

resident: Adrian Corder-Birch D.L. • Rustlings • Howe Drive • Halstead • Essex C09 2QL • adrian@corder-birch.co.uk 

Registered Charity No. 213218