New development has a significant influence on the character and quality of an area. It defines street patterns, public spaces and vistas and creates a local context for future development. This, together with natural topography, determines the townscape of the Borough.

Blackburn is characterised by a densely built-up inner area of traditional buildings of 19th century construction. These primarily comprise terraced housing and industrial mills constructed of red brick and grey slate. Significant redevelopment of the inner area and development on the edge of town of lower density housing and industrial units has somewhat diluted this character.

Darwen’s confinement to a narrow steep sided valley has given it a long linear form. Here, the use of local buff-coloured natural stone contrasts with the red brick of Blackburn, although the terraced form still dominates. Most development in Darwen is fairly small scale and rarely above two storeys. Unlike Blackburn, much of Darwen’s Town Centre has retained its traditional character.

The villages are set within areas of high landscape value, containing a predominance of 18th and 19th century housing built in local stone and slate materials. Many are self-contained and are an integral part of the character and quality of the Borough.

Over the years, the process of development has created some attractive buildings and spaces in Blackburn and Darwen, particularly in the town centres. Many of these buildings have been listed or lie within designated conservation areas.

The redevelopment process has also resulted in some mediocre buildings and spaces that detract from the overall quality of the environment. The policies in this chapter therefore aim to ensure that new development adds quality to the townscape, by being of a high standard and appropriate to its surroundings and locality.

The policies in this section seek to apply general principles of urban design such as local context, safety and security and landscape treatment. Other policies look at protecting and enhancing the townscape.

Whilst the main emphasis is on the urban environment, policies have also been included to influence the design of development in rural areas. These policies must be read in conjunction with the Plan’s general land use policies. Any proposal will have to satisfy these policies however well designed it might be, before planning permission is given.

Planning Policy Guidance Note 1 “General Policy and Principles” (PPG1) indicates that the appearance of proposed development and its relationship to its surroundings are material considerations. The Council will have regard to this and the design guidance in determining planning applications.

The use of design guidance will assist the local planning authority to speed up the process of determining planning applications, as well as providing a context for applicants on the possibilities and options available. The policies in this chapter and the guidance have been prepared in a way that encourages flair, initiative and imagination, whilst ensuring compatibility and harmony with the surroundings and locality.

Applicants for planning permission should be able to demonstrate how they have taken account of the need for good design in their development proposals and that they have had regard to relevant supplementary design guidance. This should be done in a manner appropriate to the nature and scale of the proposals. The Council wants to ensure that new building and refurbishment schemes achieve the highest possible standard of design and contribute to improving the appearance of the Borough.

In order to demonstrate that they have had regard to good design, applicants for planning permission should, as a minimum, provide a short written statement setting out the design principles adopted. Illustrative materials such as plans and elevational drawings should show how the development will appear and relate to its surroundings.

Policy HD1 establishes broad design principles. As a general rule, new buildings should reflect their local context. For buildings to fit sympathetically into their new environment, they must respect the visual and functional characteristics of the area. The main features that should be taken into account are materials, mass, height, density and scale. This is particularly important where an area has a dominant character. A building that respects these considerations and uses the same palate of materials, will be more readily absorbed into and enhance the townscape.

Hard and soft landscape schemes can greatly enhance the built environment. Landscape treatment should be considered at an early stage in the design process so that it can be fully integrated into a development. Policy HD9 provides more detailed policy guidance on landscape treatments in new developments.

Where development takes place adjacent to areas of open space or countryside, it should take advantage of the situation by allowing views onto these areas. The development should also present an attractive appearance through attention to good design and layout.

It is important to maintain the character of the Borough’s skylines and roofscape and protect local views from development that would block or spoil them. Development should therefore be restricted to the same or similar height as adjacent existing structures.

Temporary buildings can serve a useful purpose, but they are often less attractive than permanent buildings. They are therefore not appropriate in prominent locations and because they are not an acceptable alternative to permanent buildings, consent will only be given for a limited time period.

Policy HD2 aims to protect the distinctive character of the Borough’s built environment and its relationship with the surrounding rural areas. The following features are particularly sensitive to poorly sited and obtrusive development:

• Blackburn and Darwen Town Centres which contain the majority of the important civic buildings;
• buildings and conservation areas of special architectural or historic interest;
• the ridgelines containing the towns;
• the clearly defined transition from town to country along most of the urban fringe;
• the villages that are chiefly within the surrounding rural and moor land areas of high landscape value;
• the Victorian parks; and
• the Darwen Valley.

New development that would have an unacceptable impact on these features will rarely be permitted.

PPG1 states that development proposals provide the opportunity to secure a more accessible environment for everyone. These include wheelchair users and other people with disabilities, elderly people and those with young children.

The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, incorporated into the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 under Section 76, requires developers of specified types of buildings to provide suitable means of access, parking and toilet facilities to meet the needs of people with mobility and sensory impairments. The types of building to which the Act applies are those open to the public such as shops, restaurants, leisure and community buildings, places of employment and educational buildings.

This policy only applies to the environment outside buildings. The internal layout is not usually a material consideration of planning permission. Internal arrangements are dealt with separately under British Standards Institution Code of Practice BS8300:2001 “Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people” and Part M of the Building Regulations.

Where new buildings are proposed, attention should be paid to the provision of suitable access to building entrances from adjoining streets and setting down points. Car parking spaces for disabled persons using the building and sign posting of routes to an entrance suitable for disabled visitors and employees should also be provided.

The Council intends to resolve the issue of disabled access by negotiation. However, where appropriate, the Council may impose conditions requiring access provision for people with disabilities.

The Council intends to produce its own Code on mobility. Until then the County Council’s adopted Code of Practice will be used.

Minimum standards have been established for the level of acceptable daylight and sunlight. Developers should take account of the effect of a proposal on the amount of natural light enjoyed by those living or working in adjacent buildings. This is particularly important where developments are close to existing houses and is often an issue when domestic extensions are concerned.

Developers' attention is drawn to the advice in Circular 5/94 - 'Planning out Crime'; The sensitive design and layout of buildings and landscaping can reduce the opportunities for crime and also the fear of crime. This is a serious problem affecting the quality of life of many people, particularly women and the elderly. It is therefore important that all new developments are sensitively designed in relation to crime prevention and all aspects of the proposal are designed to reduce opportunities for crime. The Council will encourage discussion with developers at an early stage in the application process to consider crime prevention matters.

Safety and security considerations may influence the design of buildings, layout of car parks, the form and arrangement of open spaces and pedestrian pathways, lighting and landscaping details. Layouts should avoid creating concealed blind spots and ensure that open areas and car parks are overlooked and well lit.

Any design feature aimed at crime prevention needs to be sensitive to its context and a balance struck between security and amenity. For instance, security fencing and shutters are often visually poor and should be carefully designed to reduce their impact.

The efficient production and use of energy can have a significant environmental impact by reducing the emission of gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect and acid rain.

Buildings are major consumers of energy and are responsible for approximately half the UK’s emissions of greenhouse gases that cause acid rain. Building regulations are responsible for detailed energy efficiency measures, but by influencing the design and layout of buildings, the planning system can also contribute to the conservation of resources.

The objective is to persuade developers to take energy efficiency into account when designing their layouts. Building orientation and site layout can affect energy consumption for heating. Energy consumption can be reduced by using ground formations, shelter belts and other buildings to reduce the effects of weather, avoiding overshadowing and having south facing windows.

The Council will consider proposals that combine energy efficient measures sympathetically. Where a development is within a conservation area or affects a listed building, it is important that the design is in keeping with the special architectural or historical character.

Outdoor advertisements can take many forms. Among the most common are fascia and projecting signs, pole signs, menu boards and advance signs alongside roads. Signs and advertisements are important to the commercial life of an area and if they are well designed, they can contribute to its character or appearance. In accordance with PPG19, it is accepted that anyone proposing to display an advertisement needs to have it in that particular location.

The Council can only consider applications for advertisement consent with regard to their effect on amenity or public safety. “Amenity” means the effect of an advertisement upon the visual amenity of the neighbourhood. “Public safety” refers to the safety of people using any form of transport, including pedestrians, likely to be affected by an advertisement.

It is important to consider the effect of an advertisement on the character of the area, which may include scenic, historical, architectural or cultural features. The context of the area will determine what type of advertising is appropriate. For example, the presence of listed buildings or designated conservation areas and whether it is a town centre high street, residential area or the open countryside. For instance, a brightly illuminated sign that may be appropriate in a high street may be less acceptable in sensitive locations such as conservation areas or residential areas. In rural areas, businesses will expect to be able to advertise their services, but signs should be designed and sited carefully to harmonise with their setting.

Excessive numbers of adverts and signs in close proximity compete with each other and can lead to visual chaos and clutter in the street scene. The number of adverts and signs will be limited to a level appropriate to the character of the area.

Advertisements should be in scale with their surroundings; they should not unduly dominate either individual buildings or the area generally. They should be positioned in a way that respects the symmetry of the building and should not cut across windows or architectural features.

Large advertisement hoardings do fulfil a role but are more appropriate in commercial areas or adjacent to transport routes than in residential areas. It is important that they are in keeping with the scale of any adjacent buildings.

The number and arrangement of advertisements should not cause distraction or confusion to traffic, either vehicular or pedestrian, particularly at junctions. They should not obscure traffic signals and any illumination should not be capable of being confused with traffic signals.

Trees contribute to the landscape and the amenity of an area. They provide screening, form an important wildlife habitat and may also be of historical value. The Borough of Blackburn with Darwen has, in common with the rest of the country, a low percentage of tree cover. Both woodlands and individual trees contribute to the character of the townscape and the countryside.

The Council has made and will continue to make, as appropriate, Tree Preservation Orders to protect trees in the interests of amenity. Ancient Woodlands over 2 hectares are listed on the Ancient Woodlands Inventory produced by English Nature and are designated as County Heritage Sites and therefore protected under Policy LNC6. This policy is intended to retain trees, whether or not protected by a designation, on or adjacent to development sites, as far as is practicable and in a situation and condition that allows them to flourish and contribute to the quality of the development.

The Council will require any planning applications affecting trees, whether on or adjacent to the site, to be accompanied by a Tree Survey and the results presented on an accurate site plan. Information covered by the Survey must include the location, size and health of all trees on the site and indicate whether they are to be retained or removed. Additional information may be required by the Council if the trees are considered to be particularly significant, for example, part of a County Heritage Site. The proposed site layout should not confine or prejudice the health and survival of remaining trees and landscaping proposals should make provision for new and replacement tree planting.

The applicant will be expected to demonstrate how trees will be retained and protected during construction. The Council will impose conditions to ensure that protective measures are in place before any permitted works begin on site. Where the removal of trees is permitted, the Council may require new trees to be planted as a compensatory measure. The presence of a protected species is a material consideration when development proposals are being considered. If a specially protected species is found, account must be taken of the relevant legislation. All species of bats enjoy additional protection and they frequently use old and hollow trees for roosting. Where there is a likelihood of bats being present the Council will require developers to submit the findings of a survey by a qualified ecologist as part of any planning application.

Applicants’ and developers’ attention is drawn to BS 5873 “Guide for trees in relation to construction”. This provides details of matters to be considered and survey and analysis methods and is reproduced in Supplementary Planning Guidance. The Council will expect applicants and developers to have regard to the advice contained in this document.

The landscape setting of a building can help to improve the character of the area to the benefit of its users, local residents or visitors. Careful landscaping can reduce the impact of new development and screen parking areas.

Landscape treatment needs to be considered at an early stage in the design process so that it can be integrated into the development. Schemes should take advantage of existing landscape features such as trees and hedgerows, stone walls, ornamental railings and quality paving. Many trees are protected by Tree Preservation Orders, but any mature trees or shrubs that can be retained and successfully incorporated into a landscaping scheme will enhance the development. Policy HD8 provides guidance on the retention of existing trees on development sites. The requirements of Policy HD9 will not be applied to schemes for the conversion of existing buildings where landscaping may not be physically possible.

Schemes should take advantage of opportunities for nature conservation, through the creation of new habitats and the planting of trees and shrubs that are native to the locality. These tend to be more valuable to wildlife than non-native “exotic” species.

It is important that landscaping schemes complement their surroundings. Landscaping which is out of character can have a damaging effect in visual, historical and ecological terms.

The Arts Council for Great Britain has asked local authorities to adopt the principle of promoting art in new developments. This policy will strengthen the character and identity of new buildings and public spaces and will in time, contribute to the heritage of the Borough.

Public art can be defined as work by artists and crafts people that can be viewed from external or internal public spaces. It may include art work incorporated into building facades, landscaping, sculpture, murals, railings and other street furniture in public spaces. It also includes community arts projects in schools and on industrial estates, which can strengthen and empower local communities. Public art can be permanent or it can be temporary for enhancing vacant land or construction sites.

In order to ensure the quality of any work, the Council will expect the artists and crafts people to be of proven ability. The Council can offer advice on the identification and commissioning of suitable individuals. In many cases the involvement of local community groups may be beneficial. In all cases, it is vital to involve the artists and crafts people at an early stage so that designs can be integrated into the development proposal.

This policy supports the Council’s Arts Strategy that seeks to involve the private sector in the implementation of public art projects in the Borough. The Council has already undertaken public arts projects at the Greenbank Business Park, Shadsworth Business Park, Central Bastwell, the Leeds-Liverpool Canal and in Blackburn Town Centre.

Appropriate developments for new public art projects will include major strategic residential, commercial, leisure and industrial schemes. So too are prominent and visually important locations on transport corridors like the canal, railway or adjacent to the Borough’s major road network. It should be noted that the Percent for Art Policy will apply equally to speculative proposals that satisfy the criteria under part 2 of Policy HD10, coming forward on Council owned land, as it does to development of privately owned land.

Under Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, local planning authorities are obliged to designate as conservation areas any “areas of special architectural or historical interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance”. Conservation area designation gives the Council control over demolition and greater control over minor developments and works to trees.

The Borough has 14 designated conservation areas. These are a mix of town centre and village, commercial and residential and vary in size from 25 to a couple of hundred properties. Although most contain listed buildings, the majority of buildings in conservation areas are not listed. It is the quality and interest of areas, including the associated open spaces, trees and historic street patterns, rather than of individual buildings that is the prime consideration in identifying conservation areas.

The Borough’s conservation areas are shown on the Proposals Maps and are at the following locations:

• Chapeltown
• Edgworth
• Hoddlesden
• Corporation Park, Blackburn
• Corporation Park No. 2, Blackburn
• Griffin, Blackburn
• Dukes Brow/Revidge, Blackburn
• Richmond Terrace/St. Johns, Blackburn
• Richmond Terrace extension, Blackburn
• Blackburn Cathedral, Blackburn
  
• Northgate, Blackburn
  
• King Street, Blackburn
  
• Darwen Street, Blackburn
  
• Darwen Town Centre
  

Proposals for enhancement may take a number of forms. In some areas, effective development control can be sufficient to protect their character, while others need a more proactive approach. For instance, in the Blackburn Town Centre Conservation Areas, the Council has entered into a Conservation Area Partnership with English Heritage to co-ordinate the improvement of the historic environment. An action plan has been drawn up to guide enhancement and regeneration programmes, for which the Council seeks funding from private and central government sources, as well as making funds available itself. A key element has been the use of limited grant assistance to secure the proper repair of buildings.

In some conservation areas, poor environmental conditions may detract from the setting of the conservation area as a whole. The Council will seek funding from English Heritage, Lottery sources and central government to encourage environmental improvements within conservation areas. Likewise, unauthorised alterations to buildings, even if they are not listed, can have a damaging effect on the character of the conservation area. In appropriate cases the Council will pursue action to rectify the damage.

The following criteria will be used for declaring additional new conservation areas:

1. The presence of buildings of architectural or historic quality or character, either listed or unlisted;
2. The existence of historical street patterns or planned layouts of high townscape or landscape value; and
3. The existence of traditional building and paving materials representative of the locality.

It is the quality and interest of areas rather than individual buildings that should be the prime consideration in identifying conservation areas. The presence of buildings of architectural or historic interest (not necessarily listed) is the basis for designation. However, there should also be evidence of historic thoroughfares and spaces and the use of local building materials and methods.

PPG15 “Planning and the Historic Environment” advises that character assessments or statements should be prepared for all designated conservation areas. These would define and record the elements of an area’s special interest, character and appearance that justify its designation. Assessments will be prepared for all of the Borough’s conservation areas within the Plan period.

When considering development proposals, special attention should be paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of a conservation area. It would be unrealistic and unreasonable to prevent all new development. The Council’s approach will therefore be to manage change to ensure that development makes a positive contribution to the character of the conservation area.

Development outside a conservation area can be damaging if it affects its setting. The criteria of this policy will therefore also apply to new development adjacent to conservation areas.

It is essential that new development respects the context of the conservation area and is of the highest possible standard. Special regard should be paid to the scale, height, form, massing, materials, detailed design, the traditional pattern of frontages and vertical and horizontal emphasis.

The character of a conservation area can be affected by development within it and also by development outside but visible from the designated area. It is therefore important that development does not mar important public views and vistas from and into conservation areas.

Existing landscape features such as trees, hedgerows and open spaces contribute to the character, appearance and setting of conservation areas. The Council will seek to protect these features from development that would lead to their loss.

The Council will resist the introduction of new uses, or the expansion or intensification of existing uses, that would unacceptably affect the character of a conservation area through the generation of excessive traffic, car parking and noise.

Maintaining historic buildings in conservation areas in productive use will often require them to be converted, altered or extended. Insensitive alterations and extensions can easily destroy the character of the conservation area. The Council will need to be satisfied that all aspects of the proposal are justified and that the overall effect is not detrimental to the character of the conservation area.

Planning applications will be required for certain types of development in conservation areas that would be classed as permitted development elsewhere. These include various types of cladding, the insertion of dormer windows in roof slopes and the erection of satellite dishes on walls, roofs or chimneys fronting a highway. If the Council sees fit, it can make directions withdrawing permitted development rights from certain types of development materially affecting the external appearance of dwelling houses, either on its own, or in the case of Article 4 Directions, via approval from the Government, depending on the type of development. There is at present one Article 4 Direction in the Borough, relating to properties in Edgworth to the north of the Edgworth Conservation Area, but the Council will keep under review the need to make further directions as and when the need arises.

Wherever possible, proposals for alteration, extension and conversion should preserve historic architectural details. Where details have been lost, the Council will encourage their reinstatement. The Blackburn Town Centre Conservation Area Partnership has made grant assistance available to certain target properties for structural repairs. In dealing with grant applications the Council has encouraged the reinstatement of features such as timber sliding sash windows, natural slate roofs and cast iron down pipes.

All alterations should be in scale and use traditional materials that are sympathetic to the original building and the character of the conservation area as a whole.

The Council will need to be satisfied that conversion schemes do not result in the introduction of uses that generate more traffic and greater parking requirements than the original use. These may be detrimental to the character of the conservation area.

It is the duty of the Government to compile lists of buildings that are considered to be of special architectural or historical interest. These “listed” buildings, of which there are approximately 350 in the Borough, are subject to stringent control against adverse change that could damage their character and appearance.

Alterations to listed buildings may be necessary to ensure their continued use, but it is important to ensure that these are kept to a minimum. Consent is required for alterations, extensions and demolition that would affect the character of listed buildings, but not usually repairs.

Many listed buildings can sustain some degree of sensitive alteration or extension to accommodate continuing or new uses. In judging whether alterations or extensions are acceptable it is necessary to assess the elements that make up a building’s special interest. Works should not damage the special interest of a listed building and applicants for listed building consent must be able to justify their proposals, by showing why works are desirable or necessary.

Many historic buildings are of intrinsic archaeological interest or stand on ground that contains archaeological remains. In these cases, it is important that there should be an assessment carried out by an appropriately qualified professional, of the archaeological implications of development proposals on listed buildings and proposals put forward for mitigating the proposal.

The most appropriate use of an historical building is usually the one for which it was originally designed. However, changing economic, social and technological circumstances may make it unfeasible to continue the original use. New uses are often the key to ensuring the future and proper maintenance of a building. In considering whether a new use is appropriate the Council will pay particular attention to the architectural and historical features of the building and endeavour to find a use that will preserve them.

Alterations to a listed building may result in the loss or alteration of features or fabric. The Council may therefore require developers to make suitable arrangements for programmes of recording such features that would be destroyed or altered by development proposals.

Buildings are listed for their special interest. It naturally follows that alterations should be carried out to a high standard of design, use traditional materials and be of a form and scale that is sympathetic to the building.

Buildings are listed because of their special architectural or historic interest. Similarly, the character of conservation areas is largely created by the quality of its buildings and the purpose of Policy HD14 is to preserve this.

PPG15 states that there should be a presumption in favour of preserving listed buildings and buildings that make a positive contribution to the character or appearance of a conservation area. Demolition will only be considered acceptable in occasional and exceptional circumstances. Proposals to demolish listed buildings and unlisted buildings that make a positive contribution to the character of appearance of conservation areas, will be assessed against the same broad criteria.

The importance of a building can be assessed against various factors. These include the significance of its architect and its qualities of age, style and materials in relation to other buildings in the conservation area. An historic association with local people or past events and its former function may also be taken into account. Any of these characteristics could provide a case for considering that a building makes a positive contribution to the special interest of a conservation area, providing its historic form has not been seriously eroded by unsympathetic alteration.

The fact that a building is in poor condition, has been neglected for a long period, or redevelopment is more economically attractive than retention, does not necessarily justify its demolition. Less weight will be given to this criterion where it is apparent that a building has been deliberately neglected in the hope of obtaining consent for demolition. If the building makes a positive contribution to the character of the conservation area, particularly if it is listed, every effort must be made to preserve it. The Council will be prepared to make use of its powers under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 to issue repairs notices and carry out urgent works to preserve listed buildings.

Occasionally there may be cases where a proposed redevelopment scheme would bring substantial benefits to the community, which would outweigh the arguments in favour of preservation. The Council will require full information about redevelopment proposals and need to be satisfied that these are acceptable. Policies HD11 and HD12 give more information on the requirements for new development in conservation areas. Consideration should be given to the feasibility of incorporating important buildings within new developments.

In order to avoid possible fragmentation or unsightly gaps following demolition, consent will always be subject to a condition that demolition shall not take place until a contract for the redevelopment works has been signed.

The National Monuments Record must be notified of all proposals to demolish listed buildings and allowed access to buildings that it wishes to record before demolition takes place. The Council may also require developers to make arrangements themselves for recording features that will be destroyed or altered by development proposals.

English Heritage compiles a Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Interest in England. The purpose of the Register is to identify important historic parks and gardens, to increase awareness of their existence and to encourage their protection and conservation.

The Register does not confer any statutory controls. The impact of development proposals on a registered park or garden or its setting, is a material planning consideration that the Council must take into account when it is deciding planning applications in or near to a registered park or garden. The following parks are included on the Register and are shown on the Proposals Maps (all are Grade II):

• Corporation Park, Blackburn
• Sunnyhurst Woods, Darwen
• Whitehall Park, Darwen
• Woodfold Park, Blackburn
• Bold Venture Park, Darwen
• Queens Park, Blackburn

As well as being recognised and protected through registration, these parks are also individually protected by other designations such as Protected Open Space, Conservation Area and County Heritage Site.

Archaeological remains, like listed buildings, are a finite and non-renewable resource. They are part of our national heritage and are valuable both for their own sake and for their role in education, leisure and tourism.

Remains are often fragile and vulnerable to damage and destruction and it can be difficult to reconcile development with their preservation. Where nationally important archaeological remains, whether scheduled or not, are affected by a proposed development, the presumption is in favour of their preservation. Consent will be refused where the effects of a development would be unacceptable.

There are seven Scheduled Ancient Monuments in the Borough:

1. Cheetham Close, Turton - Stone circle, ring cairn and two round cairns (Monument No. 53)
2. Witton Manor House (Monument No. 182)
3. Turton Tower (Monument No. 85)
4. Steam Tramway Reversing Triangle, Darwen (Monument No. 183)
5. Roman Road at Bottom o’ th’ Knotts Brow (Monument No. 116)
6. Coking ovens and coal workings, Aushaw Moss (Monument No. 27847)
7. Pleasington Alum Works, Pleasington

English Heritage’s Monuments Protection Programme is undertaking a systematic review of the national archaeological resource to identify other monuments that are of sufficient importance to be scheduled.

There are some 720 non-scheduled sites within the Borough that are of more local importance. This number may change as a result of future survey work and reappraisals of what is of archaeological and historical importance. These may also be worthy of preservation and the Council will seek to protect them from development. The case for the preservation of less important remains will depend upon the intrinsic value of the remains compared with the need for the proposed development. 

The Lancashire Sites and Monuments Record (LSMR) is managed by the Lancashire County Council Environment Directorate’s Archaeology Service. The County Archaeologist acts as the Council’s principal advisor on archaeological matters.

The needs of archaeology and development can be reconciled and potential problems reduced by early discussions between developers and the planning department. The Council supports and liaises with the LSMR which provides information about the locations where archaeological remains are known or thought to exist. Work to Scheduled Ancient Monuments needs Scheduled Monuments Consent from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

When it is evident that a development proposal is likely to affect archaeological remains, developers will be asked to submit an assessment or field evaluation as part of the planning application. This will assist in determining the importance of the remains and the effect of the development upon them.

Where development is acceptable, in-situ preservation of the remains is always the preferred solution. This may be achieved by sympathetic design, using foundations that avoid disturbing the remains altogether, or by the careful siting of landscaped or open areas.

In circumstances where in-situ preservation is not feasible or justified, archaeological remains must be preserved by record through adequate excavation and recording. This option should only be considered as a last resort because excavation invariably results in damage to the remains and site. It will be secured either through legal agreement or planning condition and must take place before building works commence.

Access to sites during the development process will be required so that the Council’s nominated archaeologists can observe and record items of interest. The Council will encourage appropriate management schemes for archaeological sites, including where suitable, the development of their recreational, tourism and educational potential.