Delegates at the IfA conference in Southport in April 2010 agreed that ‘PPS 5 represents one of the most significant opportunities in decades for archaeologists their client sector and the public to get more from archaeology’, and the ‘Southport group’, formed following the IfA conference in Southport, will be consulting widely across the sector on how to use this opportunity to use PPS5 principles to achieve archaeological practice which consistently produces even greater public benefit, which is more cost-effective for those that commission it and which is more rewarding for those that undertake it.
Southport text:
PPS 5 represents one of the most significant opportunities in decades for archaeologists, their client sector and the public to get more from archaeology. So agreed the delegates at the IfA conference in Southport in April 2010. In order to realise that opportunity, the conference recognised that the whole sector would have to think creatively and radically about how archaeology is practised and how the PPS may best be implemented. To take this forward a group was asked to reconvene to scope the potential, the aims and the means of achieving them. The group hopes to reach all parts of our multi-disciplinary sector, and is committed to promoting a broad and rapid debate across England, and, as far as planning policy permits, across the UK. It intends to stimulate contributions from the sector and beyond. It is proposed to issue frequent updates on the discussion, and produce a draft report for debate at the IfA conference in April 2011. This report will contain preliminary recommendations to heritage and property organisations, government and decision-makers on what is necessary to deliver the stated goals, as set out below. The group proposes to complete its report and wind itself up in July 2011.
The vision…:
We believe that we can achieve archaeological practice which demonstrably produces even greater public benefit, which is more cost-effective for those that commission it and which is more rewarding for those that undertake it:
… For the property sector
More efficient implementation of the planning system, helping the property sector to meet nationally consistent, fair and proportionate obligations, and to be recognised for the contribution it makes to society through the work of archaeologists
…For the public
Better public understanding and appreciation (key to sustainable development) through:
- a wide range of publications and accessible media
- a network of staffed resource centres, linked to local authority Historic Environment Records, around which public and professionals alike can coalesce to explore and research the past of their locale
- more opportunities for participation in decision-making and the archaeological process, working with but not supplanting professional experts
… For our profession 3. Strong recognition of our skills, versatility and range of their professional services to clients and society
The policy
The policy framework has never been more robust. The Government’s vision on the potential of the historic environment, published alongside the PPS, envisions that ‘the value of the historic environment is recognised by all who have the power to shape it; that Government gives it proper recognition and that it is managed intelligently and in a way that fully realises its contribution to the economic, social and cultural life of the nation.’ Government and the historic environment sector now agree that the historic environment is a resource with huge potential for understanding identity and place, for contributing to the quality of life, for sustainable growth and for delivering a wide range of economic, social, cultural and environmental agenda. As such the historic environment is a key driver for our future.
The potential
PPGs 15 and 16 (and especially 16) were ground-breaking. They enabled a robust level of practice and produced enormous quantities of new information and understanding. But the extent and quality of public benefits that government – and archaeologists – desired could not be delivered consistently because of failures in the way in which the market functioned.
PPS 5 changes everything. It gives us the potential consistently
- to help the property sector get the best out of development-led investigations
- to deliver stronger research through a more collaborative approach
- to focus on understanding and enhancing cultural significance
- to promote public participation and support
- to build the expectation of professionally accredited quality
But we need to do so in the face of the challenge from substantial cuts that could significantly weaken local government historic environment services and alter the way in which development-led archaeology is managed.
The project
The group is planning seminars with a wide range of audiences to gather and develop ideas that will refine the goals and improve delivery, delivery that will help defend PPS 5 principles from being weakened or lost in reform of the planning process.
The outputs of the project will need to draw on good practice case studies and will include detailed recommendations for improved standards, guidance and training for planners, the archaeological sector and others. Such guidance should cover how to design, manage and implement investigation and understanding of all elements of the historic environment – built, buried, and submerged – in a way that realises the public benefits that PPS 5 envisages.
The Southport group
The group consists of individuals who have volunteered to help facilitate and report on these cross-sectoral discussions. The members have strong links with the curatorial, contracting and consulting sectors; local authority conservation officers and buildings conservation professionals; academia; archives; museums; the property and construction sectors; community archaeology groups; and archaeology training and skills development groups
The working party at July 2010 comprises: Dave Barrett, Karen Bewick, Duncan H Brown, Stewart Bryant, Chris Gosden, Mike Heyworth, Peter Hinton (secretariat), Taryn Nixon (chair), Adrian Olivier, Liz Peace, Adrian Tindall and Roger M Thomas.
Contact: Southport@archaeologists.net
