BAA reassured over archaeological concerns

THE British Aggregates Association says it has received ‘some reassurance’ from Whitehall following its letter to Planning Minister Keith Hill in December 2003 over a trend by mineral planning authorities to insist on extensive pre-application archaeological digs.

"The Government’s response to the BAA emphasizes that current PPG16 guidance asks only for a reasonable and limited field investigation where important remains are likely to exist, and that this should be a rapid and inexpensive process as opposed to a full archaeological investigation."

"The BAA hopes that, in future, mineral planning authorities and archaeological officers will heed the guidance and reverse the current trend, which, it says, is leading to uncertainties, potential unsustainable and unreasonable cost constraints on businesses – particularly SMEs, and the risk of unnecessary sterilization of mineral reserves with no heritage gain."