Historic environment research strategy for Greater London

Last updated: 2 March 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 May 2009.

The work is supported by English Heritage and is led by a project team including Roy Stephenson of the LAARC, 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

It is still not too late for 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. This consultation exercise included five seminars as well as individual meetings and the collection of data through the project website.

Over 150 people took part in the consultation up to October. The consultation period was extended to the end of 2008 to allow further individual meetings with key individuals and organisations. The results of the consultation are now being collated and reviewed. If you haven't had a chance to contribute yet but would still like to play an active part in the creation of the research strategy, you can do so through this website.

We are currently welcoming comments on our draft synopsis for the strategy:

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)

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)