ALGAO:UK Urban Policy Framework for urban places

This is a working document drafted by by members of the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers (ALGAO) Urban Committee in order to provide both a context and a strategic direction for urban archaeological work in the United Kingdom. The vision is of a developed urban archaeological practice, with spin-off to the profession generally. It represents a policy framework for addressing issues that have arisen in more than a decade since the appearance of relevant UK planning guidance, and hence a focus for comment on reviews of such guidance. As such it remains a `rolling draft', still needing to engage DoE(NI) and the outcome of imminent review processes in the remaining nations, so there are no plans to publish in hard copy the foreseeable future.

This draft paper is intended as a discussion document, presenting issues raised by a group of experienced urban practitioners with regard to the appropriate response to urban development pressures. The ten sections detail strategic approaches to the urban environment, seeking to deliver archaeological solutions of benefit to the whole community, under the following heads:

1. Introduction: ALGAO challenges in urban places;
2. The National legislative framework
3. Urban deposits: to preserve in situ or by record
4. Urban buildings: the visible heritage
5. Urban information dissemination: spreading the message
6. Urban archives: a community role
7. Urban research agendas: signposting the jungle
8. Urban community projects: special value
9. Urban design feedback: the concept of `trajectory'
10. Urban decision-making: a draft framework

It is anticipated that a timetable for addressing attainable objectives will be promoted in an enhanced Urban Strategy to be published by ALGAO in association with partners, the present discussion document to be published separately.

Comments are invited on the document by 31 May 2007, to be sent to:bdurham@oxford.gov.uk