What is an archaeological desk-based assessment?

An archaeological Desk-Based Assessment (DBA) is a desktop appraisal using existing archaeological and historical information to determine any potential archaeological heritage assets and their impact on a site.  

They are usually submitted to a Local Planning Authority as part of a planning application, alongside a suite of supporting documentation.

When do I need a DBA?

A DBA is usually completed for due diligence purposes to inform land purchases and likely development budgets, or undertaken early within a development application process to inform design proposals of any archaeological opportunities or constraints. A DBA is commonly required to support development schemes, especially greenfield sites (due to their potential to contain undisturbed archaeological remains) and known heritage sites, such as former industrial sites.

If a site is located within (or in close proximity to) a World Heritage Site, Scheduled Monument, Registered Battlefield, Protected Wreck site, Archaeological Priority Area, or similarly locally defined area of archaeological potential, then it is very likely that a DBA will be required due to the high possibility of archaeological remains being present.

Additionally, local planning policy may require a programme of archaeological work in support of a planning application, and it may be possible to satisfy this requirement with a DBA. Whether or not a DBA is required can usually be clarified with a Local Planning Authority via pre-application advice.

What should I expect to see within a DBA?

A DBA can take various forms, depending upon the purpose for which it is produced. It could be a purely below ground archaeology-focused assessment or may extend to above ground heritage assets. If there are any known designated heritage or non-designated assets present nearby, then the DBA may also be required to cover the significance of those assets and assess  development impact upon the setting. This adds to the complexity of a DBA.

As a minimum, a DBA will typically include:

• A Summary or Abstract
• A review of relevant national, regional and local planning policy for archaeology and heritage
• A review of available, relevant topographic and geological information
• A review of all evidence held at the relevant Historic Environment Record(s) (HER), and if necessary the National Monuments Record, including all relevant published and unpublished reports for the surrounding area
• A historic map regression charting the previous land use history of the site
• The identification of significant archaeological or heritage issues that may pose a constraint to the proposed development
• A review of the potential (below ground) impacts of the proposed development
• Recommendations to successfully mitigate against any archaeological issues to allow development to proceed and the likely extent of such works
• Bibliographic references

How long does it take to produce a DBA?