4.20.20 Somerset extensive urban survey

The extensive urban survey of Somerset has been running for over two and a half years, and the database and assessment phases have been completed for thirty towns, which include large urban centres (such as Bridgwater and Frome) as well as failed mediaeval towns (such as Stoford, near Yeovil). The approach of the project is based on the analysis of historic maps in the context of information contained in the County SMR. In essence this is relatively straightforward, and a draft archaeological assessment report, illustrated by digital maps produced from the GIS databases (created in FastMAP) exist for the thirty completed towns. Both the on-line databases and the assessments are already in use by County Council Archaeologists for the provision of planning advice on particular sites. Copies of the written reports have been distributed to academic consultees and local planners, and deposited in the Somerset Studies Library, and wider distribution to local libraries is also planned.

The strategic phase of the project has proved more problematic, and although the initial broad brush approach of designating areas within each town, closely based on the information contained in the assessment, has been maintained, it has been necessary to carry out a major review of exactly how these areas are defined and what they mean. The original zone definitions have now been superseded by a (conceptually simpler) set of requirements for archaeological action. These include proposals for scheduling, as well as requirements for preservation in situ, full archaeological recording, or a watching brief where appropriate, or in the case of insufficient information, further evaluation. PPG-16 clearly states that it is reasonable to request an evaluation where there is +reason to believe' the existence of archaeological remains, and the strategy now being formulated follows this guidance. This new approach requires the revision of a number of the earlier strategy reports and has implications for the integration of the project into the wider planning framework. Whilst close liaison with county planners has led to the insertion into the new structure plan of a high level hook for the strategies, to which local plan policies can be attached, there is now considerable debate as to the most appropriate form of local plan policies. Because of the paucity of information in many of the towns, requirements for further evaluation dominate the new archaeological strategies, and this has blurred the distinction between the new constraint areas and the old areas of high archaeological potential. This constraint, which requires archaeological evaluation in the designated area, is already familiar in the context of Somerset's local plan, and it is now suggested that the provision of special plan policies to support the new archaeological strategies is neither necessary nor appropriate.

Somerset may therefore move towards a situation in which the archaeological strategies might be considered as supplementary planning guidance, although the archaeological understanding of settlements which the strategies represent will still need to be taken into account in assessing their significant. Consultations and discussions continue, and although extensive urban survey is scheduled for completion in March 1998, there is still some way to go in translating the data collection and assessment stages into meaningful action. It is hoped that consultations with town planners, and increasing public access to the data, through publication or development of the SMR, will continue to raise awareness of the importance of archaeology in towns even after the completion of the project, and the extensive urban survey of Somerset will play a major role in the long-term management of the archaeological resource in our historic towns.