18th November 2011, 02:49 PM
So how can RO-only enforcement work outside/in advance of the planning system, for instance in pre-planning works? Most sites I'm involved with now have a pre-planning eval, now usually this occurs after a curator has been consulted and issued a brief, but as far as I know this isn't actually compulsory.
Technically whats to stop a building company, who's dealt with archaeology before and has a relationship with a non-RO unit, from carrying out a standard eval so they can submit a report with the planning app, along with all their other supporting documentation, before any consultation with planners?
Now lets assume its an excellent piece of work. Do the curators turn it down purely because its by a non-RO or because they didn't know it had happened? - and try to force the company to carry out another eval thereby damaging the site further? Or do they accept it and by default then have to accept that the same company is qualified to do a subsequent excavation?
OK so this is all highly unlikely, any developer with sense will ask for advice from the planners beforehand and be told what they need to do and given a brief, and the non-RO unit would probably approach a curator for a brief anyway. But they don't have to - I'm pretty sure I've seen geo-technical, contamination, enviro reports etc which have just been commissioned as a matter of course and supplied with an application before any consultation occurs.
Technically whats to stop a building company, who's dealt with archaeology before and has a relationship with a non-RO unit, from carrying out a standard eval so they can submit a report with the planning app, along with all their other supporting documentation, before any consultation with planners?
Now lets assume its an excellent piece of work. Do the curators turn it down purely because its by a non-RO or because they didn't know it had happened? - and try to force the company to carry out another eval thereby damaging the site further? Or do they accept it and by default then have to accept that the same company is qualified to do a subsequent excavation?
OK so this is all highly unlikely, any developer with sense will ask for advice from the planners beforehand and be told what they need to do and given a brief, and the non-RO unit would probably approach a curator for a brief anyway. But they don't have to - I'm pretty sure I've seen geo-technical, contamination, enviro reports etc which have just been commissioned as a matter of course and supplied with an application before any consultation occurs.