Consulting Services
Our consultants can provide advice on heritage issues at all stages of a project, and the associated reports where needed. These consulting services include desk-based assessments and impact assessments.
Our heritage consultants can work with you through all stages of the planning and development process, providing advice on the risks and opportunities for a project related to heritage and archaeology. This can include identifying how to avoid impacts on heritage through design where practical. When that isn’t possible, we can design, cost, realistically program and implement proportionate mitigation fieldwork and reporting using our extensive experience. To minimise risks, clients can include the resources in construction timetables and budgets.
Planning authorities require applicants to describe the significance of any heritage assets affected by a development. We can provide this in a variety of forms, including desk-based assessment, heritage impact assessment, or environmental statement, as appropriate. Assessments can cover all sizes of projects, from individual built heritage assets to conservation area assessment and local area characterization. They use a broad range of sources to identify heritage assets present, and how development may affect their significance.
Learn about our own Environmental Sustainability Statement here.
Consulting Services Case Studies
River Thames Relief Scheme
The River Thames flood relief Scheme is a major defence project spanning Surrey and Greater London. It involves constructing a flood channel, modifying sections of the river, and enhancing habitats and public amenities along the route.
Since 2016, York Archaeology has played a vital role in supporting the scheme’s Development Consent Order (DCO) application. Our comprehensive archaeological services include desk-based assessments, archaeological risk modeling, and the design of a multi-phase evaluation programme. This evaluation covers the entire scheme and incorporates targeted risk modeling in key areas.
We’ve also contributed to the DCO process by authoring heritage sections for the Scoping Report and Preliminary Environmental Information Report. Currently, we are developing the Cultural Heritage chapter of the Environmental Statement and designing the Heritage Environment Management Plan (HEMP) to safeguard the project’s heritage considerations.
Our City Our River
In 2012, Derby City Council (DCC), in partnership with the Environment Agency (EA), launched the ‘Our City Our River’ (OCOR) project to reduce flood risks in Derby while safeguarding the city’s heritage and encouraging sustainable development along the River Derwent.
York Archaeology was commissioned to carry out archaeological mitigation excavations in key impact areas, with major efforts focused on the Scheduled Monument of Roman Little Chester. Additional targeted investigations explored Derby’s industrial heritage along the river’s southern stretches.
At Little Chester, we excavated across the northern defences, north-western interior, and western defences, uncovering valuable insights into the construction and evolution of the Roman town. Throughout the project, we collaborated closely with Historic England, DCC, EA, and principal contractors Black & Veatch. Together, we identified areas of archaeological significance, aligned our work with construction timelines, and provided on-site monitoring to ensure all archaeological remains were thoroughly documented at every stage of the development.
