PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT ADVICE
The West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service (WYAAS) is retained by the five metropolitan districts that make up West Yorkshire (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield) as their official adviser on all matters relating to the historic environment.
WYAAS appraises all planning applications in West Yorkshire and gives advice to the planning authorities on their potential archaeological implications. This includes standing buildings as well as subsurface archaeological remains.
We also deal with enquiries from the Forestry Authority, from the Highways Agency and from statutory undertakers such as Yorkshire Electricity as well as from a wide range of companies seeking information and advice on the potential archaeological implications of proposed developments.
Early consultation is strongly encouraged as it provides much greater opportunities for designing schemes which will preserve rather than destroy significant archaeological remains. The costs of archaeological recording is now the full responsibility of the developer and by entering into discussions at an early stage, applicants may also be able to avoid requirements for major, and therefore expensive, archaeological investigations.
All advice is free and confidential. Information is charged for to commercial users. Please enquire as to the current rates if you require specific archaeological information.
The number of applications that require archaeological work in advance of or during development is very small in comparison to the total number of applications. It is not the WYAS Advisory Service's intention to place unjustifiable barriers in the path of economic development.
To enquire as to whether your proposed development in West Yorkshire may have archaeological implications, please send a map extract plus OS grid reference to the WYAS Advisory Service indicating the area of the proposed development, plus a covering letter indicating the nature and scale of the development. We will reply within fifteen working days stating whether there are potential archaeological implications. This service is free of charge.
For advice to developers in West Yorkshire please see Guidelines for Developers in
West Yorkshire and Archaeology in the planning process.
You can contact us with pre-application enquiries by email or by post:
West Yorkshire Archaeology Advisory Service,
West Yorkshire Historic Environment Record,
Registry of Deeds,
Newstead Road,
Wakefield,
WF1 2DE