NI agreement on development and archaeological matters

21 April, 2011 - 13:53
Northern Ireland Construction Industry Group sign Memorandum of Understanding
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Memorandum of Understanding between QPANI, CEF and NIEA creates new framework for industry


ON 20 April 2011, John McMillen, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), together with members of the Construction Industry Group for Northern Ireland (CIGNI), endorsed their ‘Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Archaeological Matters’.

The MoU, which has been jointly written by the NIEA and CIGNI members – the Construction Employers Federation (CEF) and the Quarry Products Association NI (QPANI), creates a framework for the industry to progress its work programmes while addressing archaeological works in a structured manner sensitive to the need to protect archaeological sites and monuments and having regard to a set of principles and actions agreed by all parties.  

‘The MoU actually formalizes the proactive working relationship that the industry has been building with NIEA over the past year; that is to consult early with the NIEA Built Heritage Directorate in pre-planning discussions, in surveys, throughout the design process of a development, during any archaeological mitigation and post-excavation work, and in the publication of any finds,’ said QPANI’s Laverne Bell, speaking on behalf of the NIEA-CIGNI Working Group.



‘The construction and quarrying industry invests a lot of time and resources into such matters; this has to be done in an informed, balanced and cost-effective manner to be sustainable. We also want any new, valuable information being discovered appropriately publicized so everyone can benefit and learn more about the lives of our ancestors in Northern Ireland. That’s the ethos of our MoU.

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Supporting the commitment, CEF’s John Armstrong said: ‘The launch of this MoU is the culmination of more than a year’s collaboration between CEF, QPANI and NIEA. We would recommend all members of CEF and QPANI to adopt and observe the guidance contained in the MoU, as it reflects best practice that allows development to progress while at the same time helping to preserve our archaeological heritage.’