Historic Environment Research Strategy for Greater London

Last updated: December 8, 2009

In recent decades archaeological work has helped change our understanding of London. To continue to build on past achievements, as well as helping to understand the potential for future research, a research strategy for the historic environment of Greater London is now being developed. Work on the research strategy began in February 2008 and is due for completion in March 2010.

The work is supported by English Heritage and is led by a project team including Roy Stephenson, Head of the Museum of London's Department of Archaeological Collections and Archive, Peter Rowsome Archaeological Consultancy and The Council for British Archaeology. The project aims to:

• manage more effectively the historic environment resource and support local authority decision making
• help in identifying research priorities and facilitate links between research arising from property development and academic interests
• help realise the potential of London's Historical Environment Records and Archives
• suggest ways to better disseminate results of research to a wide audience

For links to recently published new archaeological interpretations visit: www.britarch.ac.uk/books/Clark2008 (external link)

For useful links to recent archaeological news and relevant information: www.britarch.ac.uk/cbalondon/Links/main.html (external link)

Your input
The initial stage of the project (Feb-April 08) concentrated on developing project documentation, designing the project website, writing a draft research review and contacting stakeholders. An extensive consultation with organisations and individuals interested in aspects of the historic environment took place between May and October 2008. This consultation exercise included five seminars as well as individual meetings and the collection of data through the project website.

Over 150 people had taken part in the consultation by October. As a result of the high level of response the consultation period was extended to the end of 2008 to allow further meetings with key individuals and organisations. The results of the consultation were collated and reviewed by the project team in early 2009.

This work was followed by presentation of summary results of the consultation and a synopsis of the guidance document at a stakeholders meeting, held at the Society of Antiquaries on March 20, 2009. This marked the end of the formal consultation period.

View the draft synopsis outline (PDF 52kb, opens in a new window)

The draft synopsis should be read in conjunction with a separate short discussion paper on developing definitions for a Historic Environment Research Framework :

"GLHERF" definitions (PDF 39kb, opens in a new window)

Following approval of the synopsis by the project's Steering Group in April 2009, work proceeded on writing the first draft of the guidance document. The draft was submitted to the project's Steering Group in June 2009 and comments received in late July. Revision of the draft is currently ongoing, before resubmission to the Steering Group for final comment.

The Research Strategy is scheduled for final sign-off by the Steering Group in February 2010, followed by formal submission to English Heritage. Publication will take place later in 2010 and the strategy's implementation plan will encourage the active involvement of the general public in developing the strategy over the coming years.

Project design and invitation to tender
A detailed project design was submitted to English Heritage in November 2007 and, following comment and revision, formed the basis for the agreed work. An edited summary version of the Project Design can be read by opening the following attachment:

Project design - version 4 for public website (Word 191kb, opens in a new window)

The project design was submitted in response to an Invitation to Tender issued by English Heritage in September 2007:

Research Strategy for Greater London tender document (Word 48kb, opens in a new window)