Cheshire Archaeology Planning Advisory Service
Overview
The Cheshire Archaeology Planning Advisory Service (APAS) provides advice on the archaeological implications of development to Cheshire West and Chester Council, Cheshire East Council, Halton Borough Council and Warrington Borough Council.
Archaeological advice
Our Development Management Archaeologists are always happy to provide initial advice on the archaeological issues that may affect a development proposal.
Contact us
- Post: Cheshire Archaeology Planning Advisory Service Total Environment, HQ, Nicholas Street, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 2NP
For Cheshire East, Warrington and Halton:
For Cheshire West and Chester:
- Phone: 01244 973289
- Email: archaeology@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
Please note that some local authority planning departments have adopted a chargeable formal pre-application procedure and it may not be possible to provide formal written advice outside this procedure.
Applicants, developers and their agents are advised to contact the appropriate council planning department for more information on the pre-application process.
Designated sites
Development proposals may affect statutorily designated heritage assets such as Scheduled Monuments. In these cases, we will refer the developer to Historic England for further advice and guidance on whether formal consent, such as Scheduled Monument Consent, may be required. This includes development which may only impact the setting of the designated heritage asset.
Applicants with development proposals which are located within the Chester and Boughton Area of Archaeological Importance (as defined by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979) should consult the Chester Archaeological Plan at the earliest opportunity.
Archaeological mitigation
Depending on the nature of the proposed development, it may be appropriate for pre-determination archaeological work to be carried out (such as desk based archaeological assessment or a programme of field evaluation) and the results submitted as a report in support of the planning application.
The report will assist in establishing the significance of any heritage assets and help define whether any further archaeological mitigation is required. Any further mitigation, which is likely to be secured by condition, may consist of detailed proposals to secure the preservation in situ of significant archaeological deposits or, if this is not possible further fieldwork.
This may range from a formal programme of excavation in the case of significant deposits to a programme of archaeological observation and recording in the case of remains of lesser importance.
APAS can provide specifications for archaeological work, monitor archaeological fieldwork and post-excavation programmes, and advise on the discharge of archaeological conditions.
Archaeological contractors and consultants
We do not maintain a list of archaeological contractors and consultants. However, other lists are available, such as the list of Registered Archaeological Organisations maintained by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists or the BAJR Directory.
