Archaeology and planning

Derbyshire is widely celebrated for its rich and varied landscape, surviving ancient buildings, settlements, and archaeological sites. This historic environment, with sites and monuments dating from the Ice Age to the Cold War, is worth treasuring for its own sake and often needs special consideration as part of the planning process. 

The Archaeology Service provides advice and support on archaeology and the historic environment to Derbyshire County Council, landowners, developers, and members of the public.

Working in partnership with 9 local planning authorities, Amber Valley, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derby City, Derbyshire Dales, Erewash, High Peak, North East Derbyshire and South Derbyshire, we provide expert archaeological advice on planning proposals and applications throughout the county, excluding the Peak District National Park. Please consult Peak District Archaeology and Planning for proposed development affecting that area.

We support our partner authorities in scoping and monitoring appropriate archaeological responses and outcomes within the planning process. We are also available to provide pre-application advice to landowners, developers, and householders on a formal or informal basis.

Contact

For planning related archaeological queries, please contact:

• team manager, county and planning archaeologist, email steve.baker@derbyshire.gov.uk or telephone: 01629 539773 or mobile: 07795 255837
• planning archaeologist, email reuben.thorpe@derbyshire.gov.uk or telephone: 01629 539774 or mobile: 07795 290039

Derbyshire Historic Environment Record (HER)

The HER is the most comprehensive record available of archaeological remains, historic buildings, and cultural landscapes, in addition to records of all known archaeological surveys, excavations and other fieldwork carried out in the county, reports for which are kept in our digital library. It underpins and informs the advice given by the Planning Archaeologist and is an important resource for anyone curious about Derbyshire’s historic environment.

Access to the HER is free to members of the public and private researchers including teachers, students and charitable or voluntary heritage organisations. Prior to contacting us, visit the Historic Environment Record that shows a selection of the information available from the full HER.

In person visits to the HER can be made by appointment, to view other resources that are not yet available either online or digitally.

The HER website is not to be used for planning purposes.

For general archaeological queries or concerns relating to Derbyshire's Historic Environment, please email archaeology@derbyshire.gov.uk.

For private HER queries or commercial HER requests relating to planning or development, please email historicenvironmentrecord@derbyshire.gov.uk.

There is no charge for a household-scale, or a single building record check. Full commercial HER searches requested as part of the planning process are subject to a standard charge of £200, an additional £60 per hour may be applied to exceptionally large or complicated enquiries. We aim to complete requests within 2 calendar weeks, but often finish within a shorter period.