| Summary: | In 1991 the City of York in England adopted a policy to manage its
archaeological heritage. The policy was in response to national directives
that sought to locate the management of the sub-surface resource within the
local planning process. This approach was pursued in order to ameliorate
the costly and often controversial problems that had occurred when
planning consent was given without the consideration of the archaeological
potential of a site.
The research examines the planning dilemma of how to create a policy
that balances the economic value of regeneration and the historic value of
the archaeological resource. The intention of this study is to assess the
success of the policy adopted in York in terms of an overall planning
framework that allows planners to meet the requirements of the living
community, while preserving the archaeological heritage; as well as the
policy's success in meeting its own aims and objectives.
To understand the situation thoroughly, a holistic approach combining
field research and library research was undertaken. Basic data sources
include in-depth interviews with a diverse group of stockholders including
archaeologists, planners, politicians, developers, architects and amenity
group leaders; and primary and secondary documents which include policy
statements, newspaper articles, journals, monographs and books.
The research for the study suggests that overall the policy has
accomplished the majority of its aims and objectives. In particular, it
facilitates development while preserving the archaeological heritage. To
ensure the continued success of the policy, however, it is critical that steps
are taken to integrated it more comprehensively into the larger domain of
planning responsibilities.
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