4th August 2006, 01:39 PM
The value of DMRB vol 10 is that it represents the only piece of guidance (and remember, it is only guidance, not legislation) from a Government body on how to undertake Environmental Impact Assessment in relation to heritage issues in England. Yes - there are weaknesses with the methodoology used in DMRB, but I do not consider DMRB as an attempt to bypass PPG16. Although EH are referred to in the first instance for consultation, EH will usually go to the local curators to agree a common approach.
The whole of DMRB is currently under review and heritage is apparently one of the most advanced topics in terms of the review period. The revised DMRB will include advice on how to assess settings (hoorah) as well as how to assess impacts on the overall historic environment.
The current input of archaeologists into Highways Agency road schemes is very high and reviewed by a number of people at each stage. The HA has regional framework agreements for advice on road schemes, currently (I think) including RPS, Atkins Heritage and CGMS. Main road-building contractors will have their own archaeological consultants and contractors on board from an early stage, especially with the new-style Early Contractor Involvement where the contractor picks the scheme uop before the Planning Inquiry and takes it through Inquiry, Redesign, Build etc.
The Highways Agency now pick up the tab for all of the archaeological works through to publication - a great leap forward from 10-15 years ago when they just threw £100k p/a at English Heritage to cover all work in that year regardless of how many schemes were underway or where these schemes were.
Anyone who thinks that DMRB is an easy way out should try working their way through a major scheme (and that's before we even get onto WebTAG etc).
Beamo
The whole of DMRB is currently under review and heritage is apparently one of the most advanced topics in terms of the review period. The revised DMRB will include advice on how to assess settings (hoorah) as well as how to assess impacts on the overall historic environment.
The current input of archaeologists into Highways Agency road schemes is very high and reviewed by a number of people at each stage. The HA has regional framework agreements for advice on road schemes, currently (I think) including RPS, Atkins Heritage and CGMS. Main road-building contractors will have their own archaeological consultants and contractors on board from an early stage, especially with the new-style Early Contractor Involvement where the contractor picks the scheme uop before the Planning Inquiry and takes it through Inquiry, Redesign, Build etc.
The Highways Agency now pick up the tab for all of the archaeological works through to publication - a great leap forward from 10-15 years ago when they just threw £100k p/a at English Heritage to cover all work in that year regardless of how many schemes were underway or where these schemes were.
Anyone who thinks that DMRB is an easy way out should try working their way through a major scheme (and that's before we even get onto WebTAG etc).
Beamo