Archaeology and planning

Historic Environment Planning Team service delivery: January 2023

Certain aspects of the Historic Environment Planning Team's service may continue to be disrupted in the coming months. Since January 2021, the team's office base is located at Quadrant Court, Woking. As a consequence of our relocation, not all casework files and also some Historic Environment Record printed resources housed there are currently readily accessible. Please be aware that responses requiring consultation of such files by a team member may take longer than usual as a consequence. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. The team can be contacted via email at heritageconsultations@surreycc.gov.uk.

The Historic Environment Planning Team provide a focus for archaeological activity in Surrey, working in partnership with organisations such as the Surrey Archaeological Society and Historic England.

One of the team's major roles is advising on planning proposals for new developments. This is a statutory requirement laid out under a series of English laws, including the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act (1979), and the National Planning Policy Framework. The aim is to preserve our most important archaeological sites and monuments and ensure that, where archaeological evidence must be destroyed by essential development, an appropriate record is made.

When excavation is required, it is professional archaeological organisations that carry it out, and the Historic Environment Planning Team's archaeologists agree the project design as well as monitor the work in progress. All information – and any reports or publications – that result from such work is then approved by the Archaeological Officers and deposited in the Historic Environment Record, with the data subsequently fed into the online HER dataset on Exploring Surrey's Past.

For further information on archaeology in Surrey, please contact:

Tony Howe (Historic Environment Planning Team Manager)

Providing Strategic planning advice at National, Regional and County levels; team and project management; Guildford Diocese Advisory Committee Archaeological Advisor; County Archaeologist; landscape archaeology and general historic environment advice; advice and guidance on archaeological and heritage planning policy, and planning appeals.


Nick Truckle (Archaeological Officer)

Providing archaeological development control advice for Guildford, Reigate and Banstead, Runnymede, and Waverley Borough Councils, archaeological fieldwork monitoring and general archaeological advice.


Nigel Randall (Archaeological Officer)

Providing archaeological development control advice for Mole Valley and Tandridge District Councils, archaeological fieldwork monitoring and general archaeological advice.


Matt Saywood (Archaeological Officer)

Providing archaeological development control advice for Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath and Woking Borough Councils, archaeological fieldwork monitoring and general archaeological advice.

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