POLICY LE12 (CP10)
Scheduled/ Nationally Important Ancient Monuments

Development will not be permitted where there is an unacceptable impact adverse effect on scheduled and other nationally important ancient monuments and their settings.

6.51 Archaeological remains are finite, irreplaceable and in many cases fragile and vulnerable to damage. They are, however, not all of equal importance and within the Plan area the City Council considers that the former walled area of the City, Hadrian’s Wall, the vallum and associated archaeological remains are of international importance. These, together with other monuments of national importance are all worthy of preservation. The Proposals Map shows all known scheduled and other nationally important monuments to which the Policy will apply. It should be noted that any development affecting a scheduled monument will require scheduled monument consent.

6.52 Paragraph 8 of PPG 16: Archaeology and Planning states: ‘Where nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, and their settings, are affected by proposed development there should be a presumption in favour of their physical preservation’

6.53 The City Council will make full use of its statutory powers to safeguard these archaeological remains and will endeavour to preserve them in situ. In exceptional cases, which can only be decided on the merits of the individual case, where it is either not feasible or the circumstances of the case do not justify the preservation of the remains in situ, the City Council will ensure by condition and Section 106 Obligation that the archaeological evidence is recorded by prior excavation.

6.54 Any new building or development which affects a scheduled monument and would lead to the destruction of the archaeological remains will not be permitted. In many cases, however, it is usually possible to design schemes to minimise damage by using foundations that raise ground levels under a proposed new structure or by careful siting of open space and landscape areas.

6.55  In the case of new buildings on the site of earlier structures recently demolished, the erection of minor extensions, or the provision of an access, gardens and service trenches which would not cause further damage, applications will be permitted.