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Policy DQ9: Sites and Areas of Archaeological Importance

Nationally important sites and their settings

1. Development will not be permitted if it would destroy or harm a Scheduled Ancient Monument or other nationally important archaeological remains or their setting.

Sites and areas of district and local importance

2. Development must not cause damage to sites and areas that are known, or thought to contain, remains of archaeological importance.

Procedures

3. Where it appears that a development would affect a site of archaeological interest:

a) Sufficient information should accompany the application to assess the character, condition and extent of the archaeological resource; and

b) Where the preservation of archaeological features in situ is not justified, provisions through planning conditions will require archaeological investigations to be completed before development begins and also ensure the excavation, recording, analysis and reporting of the archaeological resource is undertaken.

Explanation DQ9

11.51

Knowsley contains a number of important archaeological remains which are important as a cultural, educational and heritage resource. National planning policy requires that new development should take into account the need to preserve and/or record archaeological remains.

11.52

Sites of national importance are designated by the Government as Scheduled Ancient Monuments. There are presently none of these in Knowsley. However, if any are designated within the Plan period it will be important to ensure that they should be physically preserved, along with their settings.

11.53

The preference is also for the preservation in situ of archaeological sites of less than national importance. There are a considerable number of these within Knowsley, which are recorded on the Sites and Monuments Record by the Merseyside Archaeological Service (SMR - see footnote¹²).

11.54

Where evidence suggests that development could affect archaeological remains, the developer will be required to arrange investigations to assess their character, condition and extent. If the remains are found to be particularly important, the developer may be required to design the development to enable them to be preserved in situ. If in situ preservation is not considered necessary, conditions may be imposed on any planning permission to ensure that the remains are excavated, recorded, analysed and reported.

11.55

Detailed guidance on archaeology and the development process may be set out in a Supplementary Planning Document.

Policy Links
Policy DQ7	“Listed Buildings”
Policy ENV9	"Protection of Habitats and Designated Sites"

¹² The Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) is held within Liverpool Museum and updated on a regular basis.