30th January 2009, 02:20 PM
Posted by diggingthedirt:
I have been involved in several of these, but the best example was a proposed on-line upgrade of a road to motorway, where the motorway was realigned (off-line) by about 500m, and the archaeological site has since been Scheduled. Quite controversial, as the realigned route had much greater impact on other aspects of the environment than the original route (including requiring the demolition of several houses and a cafe, much greater land-take and loss of a badger sett).
It is harder on non-linear developments, where there is often only one site available. However, many large-scale developments go through a site selection process that includes an environmental 'due diligence' process, and this often involves archaeological DBA. Minimising environmental risk (including archaeological risk) is often a major factor in site selection.
'Environmental risk' in this context means risk to the project (additional cost, delays, or difficulties in getting consents as a result of environmental issues), rather than risk to the environment, but the effect is the same.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
Quote:quote:Can anyone think of an example where trenches have been opened at evaluation stage and the archaeology has been so significant that the development could not proceed?I certainly know of cases where the development has had to be relocated/realigned to avoid the archaeology following trial trenching. This happens quite often on linear infrastructure projects (roads, piplelines, flood defences).
I have been involved in several of these, but the best example was a proposed on-line upgrade of a road to motorway, where the motorway was realigned (off-line) by about 500m, and the archaeological site has since been Scheduled. Quite controversial, as the realigned route had much greater impact on other aspects of the environment than the original route (including requiring the demolition of several houses and a cafe, much greater land-take and loss of a badger sett).
It is harder on non-linear developments, where there is often only one site available. However, many large-scale developments go through a site selection process that includes an environmental 'due diligence' process, and this often involves archaeological DBA. Minimising environmental risk (including archaeological risk) is often a major factor in site selection.
'Environmental risk' in this context means risk to the project (additional cost, delays, or difficulties in getting consents as a result of environmental issues), rather than risk to the environment, but the effect is the same.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished