Archeological Building Surveys/Records

[Athers1971]

Good evening,

Understanding Historic Buildings: A Guide to Good Recording Practice

Just wondering if anyone has had to have one of these done as a pre-condition to their PP/LBC consent?

We're being asked by the LPA (Conservation Team) to agree to a Level 3 building record as pre-commencement condition, before they give us formal approval. The County Archaeology Team were a consultee and proposed this condition.

I've been back today and challenged and the LPA have suggested they would agree to a lesser detailed Level 2 building record.

I'm inclined to agree to that as it has to be cheaper than a level 3, but I've no actual accurate idea of cost at present.

There is some urgency as the LPA asked us to agree to an extension which expires on Friday and therefore want to get the report/decision finalised before then, but they are putting me (my architect is current unavailable) on the spot to agree to this.

Should I bite their hands off at a Level 2 or kick back again and perhaps see our application thrown into the long grass again?

Any thoughts or experience?

 

[ChrisDHFH]

Yes, I have had one of these L3 surveys performed as a condition attached to a planning consent. I only wanted to complete a small part of the overall planning consent but was required to have this completed before any works were started - despite it being totally irrelevant to the work being performed.
Now, I could have taken the view that these were the actions of a greedy and corrupt local council who were more interested in lining their own pockets than having any concern for the built heritage. Or, alternatively, I could support the people actually carrying out the work that is, in my view, interesting and important.
I chose the latter and was quite happy with both the process, the attention to detail and the effort put in to the final report. I found out details about the property that I had no idea about and the report stands as an historical record for my property.
The cost was iirc around £2,000 in 2016.