ASE front cover 3127 Dover Castle - Archaeology South-East

Archaeology South-EastDover Castle New Admissions Buildingtheir implementation through development control will be especiallyimportant”. (PPG16: 14)2.1.3 The Local Planning Authorities in Kent take their advice regardingarchaeological matters from the Heritage Conservation Group at KentCounty Council. This procedure is in line with the guidance of PPG16as outlined above.2.2 Kent and Medway Structure Plan2.2.1 County Structure Plans are statutory land-use policy documents for thecounty. They guide development, protect features of the environment,and influence the location and type of private and public investment.Structure plans provide a framework which sets the basis for moredetailed policies set in local development plans, and are used indeciding planning applications. The Kent and Medway Structure Plan(adopted July 2006) states that the historic environment is anirreplaceable asset which contributes greatly to the character of thecounty but is nonetheless vulnerable to damage and destruction(paragraph 5.8).2.2.2 The county council’s duty of care and policy for conserving andenhancing the archaeological heritage of the county for the benefit ofpresent and future generations is summarised below:Policy QL6 of the Kent & Medway Structure Plan states thatdevelopment within Conservation Areas should preserve or enhancetheir character or appearance. Development which would harm thecharacter or appearance of a conservation area will not be permitted.Policy QL7 of the Kent & Medway Structure Plan states that thearchaeological and historic integrity of scheduled monuments and otherimportant archaeological sites, together with their settings, will beprotected and, where possible enhanced. Development which wouldadversely affect them will not be permitted. Where important orpotentially important archaeological remains may exist, developers willbe required to arrange for archaeological assessment and / or fieldevaluations to be carried out in advance of the determination ofplanning applications. It also states that remains should be preservedin situ, but where this is not possible or justified appropriate provisionfor preservation by record will be required.Policy QL8 of the Kent & Medway Structure Plan states that ListedBuildings should be preserved and their architectural and historicintegrity and the character of their settings protected and enhanced.Development which will adversely affect them will not be permitted.Changes of use will be permitted where these provide the bestreasonable means of conserving the character, appearance, fabric,integrity and setting of listed buildings._____________________________________________________________________3