Heritage White Paper

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In my view the white paper does nothing to undermine PPG16 and the presumption of preservation in situ for nationally important archaeological remains is unaffected. AAIs are being scrapped beacause it has been widely recognised due to minimal uptake that there is no need for this specific designation. Indeed it has been superceded by PPG16, in particular paragraph 15:

quote: Development plans should reconcile the need for development with the interests of ... archaeology. Detailed development plans... should include policies for the protection, enhancement and preservation of sites of archaeological interest ... The proposals map should define the areas and sites to which the policies and proposals apply. These policies will provide an important part of the framework for the consideration of individual proposals for development which affect archaeological remains etc...

Also Annex 3, para 20:

quote:As this PPG has been framed to deal with archaeological interests more comprehensively than the provision of AAIs allows, the Secretary of State has decided that no more AAIs should be designated until an assessment of the effectiveness of the PPG has been undertaken

The white paper as CK points out has the potential to further strengthen this process by giving extra weight to the designation of sites and areas of 'less than national importance'. The drafting of clearer criteria for the designation of sites on a 3 grade system will also provide clarity as to the importance of sites - assisting in decision making and giving curators some back up as to their position.