Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Roz Savage (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 17 June 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 19 June 2025. It was answered by Chris Bryant (Labour) on Wednesday, 25 June 2025 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Archaeological Sites: Conservation

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of protections for non-designated but significant archaeological sites under current (a) heritage and (b) land management regulations; and if she will consider introducing new (i) powers and (ii) funding streams to support (A) geophysical surveys and (B) site preservation where landowner cooperation is not forthcoming.

Answer

No such assessment has been undertaken recently.

The significance of non-designated heritage assets varies considerably. Measures to help conserve significant non-designated heritage assets through the planning and development control processes are included in national planning policy, while incentives for the positive management of some of those located in rural areas can be found in environmental land management schemes. Owners of such assets can also consider entering into related conservation covenants.

The protections conferred specifically by heritage legislation primarily relate to designated heritage assets, including Scheduled Monuments and Listed Buildings. Some non-designated heritage assets may benefit from a degree of legislative protection by being incidentally located on, in or under land that has been protected by non-heritage-related designations (such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest).

The Government has no plans at the present time to introduce further measures.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
60760
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Conservation Archaeological sites Finance Surveying
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk