Strategic housing development
Archaeology for Strategic Housing Development in Cambridgeshire
On a strategic housing allocation, archaeology is a multi-year programme item that interacts with infrastructure delivery, phasing and sales release.
- Programme horizon
- Multi-year, phased
- Clear first
- Spine infrastructure and drainage
- Cash flow lever
- Phase-based discharge
- Long tail
- Reporting, archive and publication
Why this scheme type carries the requirement it does
Large allocations need evidence to establish the extent of archaeology. Where work is required, consider how the archaeological programme is sequenced so that each parcel is cleared before it is needed, without paying for the whole site years in advance.
The approach that keeps it proportionate
Push for phase-based condition wording, evaluate the whole site early enough to plan intelligently, and target mitigation parcel by parcel. Spine infrastructure and drainage usually need clearing first, because everything else depends on them.
Define what releases each phase
Issue the phase boundaries, roads and drainage programme, construction access and required plot-release dates. State which written confirmation is needed before each handover. Fieldwork completion, acceptance of a report and discharge of a planning condition are separate milestones.
Continue
Before appointing
Turn the requirement into a defined programme decision
Confirm the planning trigger, the area and depth of disturbance, any existing archaeological evidence, and the date that matters to the wider programme. That is the minimum information needed to decide whether the next step is appraisal, evaluation, mitigation or a regulator discussion.
Sources and further reading
We use current public policy and guidance to keep this practical explanation grounded. Sources checked 19 September 2026.
- National Planning Policy Framework ↗
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Historic environment: planning practice guidance ↗
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Standards and guidance ↗
Chartered Institute for Archaeologists
Questions
Common questions on this
Should we evaluate the whole allocation at once?
Usually yes for evaluation, because it lets you plan phasing and price the liability, and no for mitigation, which is better done parcel by parcel as each phase is needed.
Project review
Archaeology on a strategic housing development scheme?
Send the impact plan, depth schedule, planning requirement and the milestone driving your decision. Include the sector-specific information listed above so the review can address your actual scheme.