Archaeological Desk based Assessment and Desktop Survey

Archaeological desk-based assessments – or Archaeological Desktop Surveys as they are sometimes known – are often a staple requirement in a list of planning conditions when it comes to the potential development of areas and buildings of known or suspected historic/archaeological significance. However, just to be clear immediately, when an archaeological desk-based assessment is listed in the standard pre-application responses provided by the Local Authority it pays to check directly with the relevant archaeology section within the Local Authority, as in many cases they aren’t consulted and the assessment is added as essentially a ‘tick box’. In some areas, especially where there is suspected or known archaeology and nearby development has already taken place, there may be a pre-existing assessment already produced (as the assessments cover a wide area to allow for historical and archaeological context), meaning that even if its on your pre-app check list, it may not actually be required.

Vindomora Solutions Ltd offer a full assessment service, including the usage of licenced Ordnance Survey mapping, LIDAR analysis and Google Earth Pro. We can undertake the historical research, map regressions and produce your report on short notice, with professional results that will satisfy your planning or pre-planning condition. Where required by the relevant authority we can also recommend on any further mitigation work required, and liaise with the client to make sure they get the best value for their time and money.

The aim of a desk-based assessment (DBA) can generally be defined as such: to reveal as far as is reasonably possible the nature, extent and probable significance of elements of the historic environment within the study area, using existing records such as historic mapping, trade directories, old photographs and building plans. The DBA acts as a guide for unitary body archaeologists who then decide if further archaeological work is required from the findings of the DBA before planning consent can be given.

We produce desk-based assessments using guidelines and standards produced by the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists in conjunction with recent planning legislation and any specific requirements for specific Local Authorities. An Archaeological Impact Assessment is included as standard in one of our DBAs.

Note: Despite the title of the service, a desk-based assessment requires a site visit and also visits to historic document archives local to the site being assessed. As such we do not undertake DBAs outside of the north of England and Scottish Borders, as the client would be better served financially to use a company local to the development.

Read the NPPF

See Section 16 for archaeology and heritage

Our Services

Recent updates

Coming soon, published by Vindomora Solutions Ltd...

Coming soon, published by Vindomora Solutions Ltd... ...

8 0
Some interesting bottles coming up during today's watching brief...

Some interesting bottles coming up during today`s watching brief... ...

12 0
Might see some of you there tomorrow?

#dobusinessnetwork #dobusinesslocal #smallbusinesssupport #networking #neshoeboxexpo #archaeology #archaeologicalpractice #northeastarchaeology

Might see some of you there tomorrow?

#dobusinessnetwork #dobusinesslocal #smallbusinesssupport #networking #neshoeboxexpo #archaeology #archaeologicalpractice #northeastarchaeology
...

1 1
The Blair Mick Project...

#historicbuildingrecording #archaeology #basementrecording

The Blair Mick Project...

#historicbuildingrecording #archaeology #basementrecording
...

18 2
Test pitting the Causey West Bank Haulage Engine yesterday and today to check for solid structures beneath the rubble.

#tanfieldrailway #causey #industrialarchaeology

Test pitting the Causey West Bank Haulage Engine yesterday and today to check for solid structures beneath the rubble.

#tanfieldrailway #causey #industrialarchaeology
...

7 0
Is this a line that should never be crossed in archaeology? 😉

#railway #industrialarchaeology #archaeology #countydurham

Is this a line that should never be crossed in archaeology? 😉

#railway #industrialarchaeology #archaeology #countydurham
...

8 0
Its amazing what can be found in modern clearance cairns (piles of stone cleared from the local area by farmers/landowners). In this one was this lovely likely Neolithic/Bronze Age cup-marked stone (unrecorded in the area), as well as the remnant of a stone marked as 'standing stone' in the Historic Environment Record...

#archaeology #northumberland #prehistoric #prehistoricnorthumberland #cupmarkedstone #archaeologicalsurvey #fieldsurvey #archaeologylife #archaeologicalfieldwork

Its amazing what can be found in modern clearance cairns (piles of stone cleared from the local area by farmers/landowners). In this one was this lovely likely Neolithic/Bronze Age cup-marked stone (unrecorded in the area), as well as the remnant of a stone marked as `standing stone` in the Historic Environment Record...

#archaeology #northumberland #prehistoric #prehistoricnorthumberland #cupmarkedstone #archaeologicalsurvey #fieldsurvey #archaeologylife #archaeologicalfieldwork
...

9 0
The Long Stone on Longstone Hill, Northumberland. The 1866 mapping shows the stone, but it does not appear in the Northumberland County Council Historic Environment Record for the area. The stone lies north of a Bronze Age funerary cairn field (Scheduled).

#northumberland #standingstones #longstone #archaeology #bronzeage

The Long Stone on Longstone Hill, Northumberland. The 1866 mapping shows the stone, but it does not appear in the Northumberland County Council Historic Environment Record for the area. The stone lies north of a Bronze Age funerary cairn field (Scheduled).

#northumberland #standingstones #longstone #archaeology #bronzeage
...

21 0
The 'Shepherd's Cairn' on Lucker Moor, Northumberland. Described in the Historic Environment Record as a Post-medieval funerary monument.

#northumberland #northumberlandarchaeology #archaeology #funerarycairn #cairn #postmedieval

The `Shepherd`s Cairn` on Lucker Moor, Northumberland. Described in the Historic Environment Record as a Post-medieval funerary monument.

#northumberland #northumberlandarchaeology #archaeology #funerarycairn #cairn #postmedieval
...

12 0
'Archaeopup' Luna popped into the office this morning, but decided she didn't fancy helping with the latest report writing...

#archaeopup #dogsofarchaeology #vindomorasolutionsltd #archaeologylife #archaeology #cantgetthestaff #caledonianwolfalike

`Archaeopup` Luna popped into the office this morning, but decided she didn`t fancy helping with the latest report writing...

#archaeopup #dogsofarchaeology #vindomorasolutionsltd #archaeologylife #archaeology #cantgetthestaff #caledonianwolfalike
...

22 0

Share/print this page on

Copyright © 2012-2023 Vindomora Solutions Ltd unless otherwise stated. All rights reserved.