Generic brief for an historic environment assessment and walk over survey

The assessment should:

• identify relevant designated and undesignated heritage assets and potential setting issues, including; scheduled monuments, listed buildings, registered historic parks, conservation areas, historically "important" hedgerows and sites recorded on the Historic Environment Record
• summarise the topography, geology and current/last land use of the study area
• identify and describe any standing buildings/structures of potential interest together with an assessment of the potential value of more detailed investigation/recording. Features of architectural or artistic interest should be noted
• analyse the landscape history of the study area to identify the character of past land use and the survival of significant features, such as routeways, boundary features, deliberately planted vegetation etc. This should include consideration of the Historic Landscape or Urban Characterisation data held by the Council Archaeology Service, Conservation Area Appraisals and the Conservation Management Plans prepared for some extensive heritage assets (for example parks and gardens). It should also include consideration of the historic setting and context of significant heritage assets
• summarise the documented archaeology of the study area, including the history of previous archaeological research in the area. Identify areas of recent ground disturbance (including raising of ground levels) within the site. Services and other potential constraints on field evaluation should also be noted. Assess the likely state of preservation and depth of burial of archaeological remains across the site
• make an initial assessment of the relevant historical documentation which may be available for the site (for example by consideration of the periods represented, the documented history of the landholding, county and local histories, listings of documents in publications and archive indexes etc.). This is particularly relevant to consideration of historical interest
• assess the reliability of the currently available information and any identify uncertainties
• identify the heritage assets potentially affected by development and assess their archaeological, architectural, artistic and historic interest and significance
• assess the likely impact of the development on significant heritage assets. Suggest potential means to minimise or mitigate negative impacts and reflect the area’s historic character in new design.

NB: Assessments of heritage interest/significance and recommendations will not be binding on the local authority or its advisers.