14th August 2006, 07:16 PM
I have been using DMRB regularly since 1993, and my main workload at present is coordinating all of the specialists (archaeologists, landscape architects, ecologists, planners, etc. etc. etc.) for Environmental Impact Assessments under DMRB.
In relation to PPG16, the key thing to note is that DMRB was written principally to cover trunk road and motorway schemes. Because these are not subject to planning permission, PPG16 does not and never did apply. However, DMRB (which was published 3 years after PPG16) does provide very good coverage of archaeological issues, including palaeoenvironmental remains (which are not mentioned at all in PPG16).
I have never come across a job done under DMRB in which the local curator was not consulted just as much as under PPG16. However, what is removed from them on a trunk road job (just as on any other non-planning job) is any power of decision or enforcement. This is essentially because the official archaeological advisor to central government is English Heritage, not the local curator.
Although written for trunk roads and motorways, DMRB is also frequently applied to other highway schemes (i.e. those put forward by the local highways authority rather than the Highways Agency). In these cases, planning permission is required, and DMRB applies as well as PPG16 - it does not supersede it.
The key thing is to bear in mind that the two documents are not alternatives. PPG16 is guidance on planning policy. DMRB is guidance on how to carry out EIA on a highways project.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished
In relation to PPG16, the key thing to note is that DMRB was written principally to cover trunk road and motorway schemes. Because these are not subject to planning permission, PPG16 does not and never did apply. However, DMRB (which was published 3 years after PPG16) does provide very good coverage of archaeological issues, including palaeoenvironmental remains (which are not mentioned at all in PPG16).
I have never come across a job done under DMRB in which the local curator was not consulted just as much as under PPG16. However, what is removed from them on a trunk road job (just as on any other non-planning job) is any power of decision or enforcement. This is essentially because the official archaeological advisor to central government is English Heritage, not the local curator.
Although written for trunk roads and motorways, DMRB is also frequently applied to other highway schemes (i.e. those put forward by the local highways authority rather than the Highways Agency). In these cases, planning permission is required, and DMRB applies as well as PPG16 - it does not supersede it.
The key thing is to bear in mind that the two documents are not alternatives. PPG16 is guidance on planning policy. DMRB is guidance on how to carry out EIA on a highways project.
1man1desk
to let, fully furnished