Preservation of Archaeological Remains and Their Settings

In all cases the desirability of preserving an archaeological site or monument and its setting, whether scheduled or otherwise, is a material consideration in determining planning applications. Accordingly in assessing the archaeological implications of a development proposal, the Department will consider whether it would damage or destroy the site or monument, result in inappropriate change to its setting or whether the existing quality and character of the site or monument would be retained. With the many demands of modern society however, the Department accepts that it is not always possible to save all archaeological remains. The key question is where and how to strike the right balance.