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Archaeology

Archaeological sites are an important part of our cultural heritage and the archaeological monuments in Bedford Borough are among the nation's finest. In recognition of their importance all archaeological sites are protected by the government's Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment (PPS5).

This page explains what we do and how developers can design planning applications with archaeology in mind and so avoid unnecessary conflict between development and the past.

The Archaeology Service’s work covers the whole of Bedford Borough. We have a team of archaeologists who provide development management advice to developers, the local planning authority (Bedford Borough Council), and utility companies. We also provide archaeology advice for non-planning matters, including forestry schemes and environmental stewardship schemes.

Our archaeologists will assess any impact that a proposed development might have on archaeology and make a recommendation to the planning authority; this could range from no objection, a request for more information and/or archaeological work, or refusal.

What happens next?

Bedford Borough Council will sometimes ask for further information to assess the archaeological impact of a planning application. If this happens then they will usually ask for a desk-based assessment, which makes a detailed appraisal of available information about a site before a planning application is submitted or approved. Depending on the results, further work may be needed and a field evaluation will be requested to investigate the archaeological remains; this could be fieldwalking, geophysical survey and/or trial trenching and is also carried out before a planning application is submitted or approved.

If evidence provided by this process proves that archaeological remains will be affected by proposed development what happens next depends on the importance of those remains. Where remains of national importance are affected the application may be refused. Sometimes it is possible to accommodate archaeology in the design of the development, for example through site layout, or foundation design. This can normally be best achieved if archaeology is taken into account early on in the process.

Archaeological Planning Conditions

If planning permission is granted there may be an archaeological condition requiring the developer to carry out excavation and recording to provide a lasting record of archaeological evidence unavoidably destroyed by the development. Alternatively there may be a watching brief condition to record archaeological evidence during the course of the development.

Pre-application Enquiries

We welcome and encourage pre-application enquiries and will advise on the best course of action as to how to satisfy archaeological conditions and how archaeological work can be carried out. So if you are considering a development in Bedford Borough, no matter how small, and would like to discuss your proposals, please contact the Archaeology Service or write to us at the address below . It is important that the needs of archaeology and development are reconciled at an early stage when there is still flexibility in design and layout.

Postal address:

Room A203,

Town Hall,

St. Paul’s Square,

Bedford,

MK40 1SJ

Tel: 01234 718560

Advice to Farmer, Land Owners and Agents

Advice is also available to farmers, landowners and agents on managing the historic environment in situations where development is not involved, for example when grants are being sought for new tree planting from the Forestry Authority or Environmental Stewardship from Natural England.

We can help to ensure the best options are chosen for specific sites to maximise grant aid and avoid potential conflicts between different environmental needs.

Bedford Archaeological Research Framework

Particular guidance is available for managing the archaeological and wider historic environment resource of Bedfordshire. A copy of the Bedfordshire Archaeological Research Framework is available free of charge from Bedford Borough Archaeology Service, please contact us to request a copy

Bedfordshire and Luton Extensive Urban Survey

Bedfordshire and Luton Extensive Urban Survey was part of a national programme of work coordinated by English Heritage. The project aims to re-evaluate the urban archaeological resource and to provide comprehensive and consistent base-line information against which research, regeneration and land use planning objectives may be set. The Heritage and Environment Section of former Bedfordshire County Council commissioned Albion Archaeology on behalf of the County Council and Luton Borough Council to undertake assessments of the 12 historic towns in the county. Within the borough area these include Bedford and Harrold.