ALSF Priorities

 The funding will be allocated exactly as proposed in the consultation documents. English Heritage will therefore distribute this funding against Theme 1 (Quarries) and Theme 2 (Marine).

The funding will be split into broad programmes of work as follows. Please note that the funding allocations are indicative.

Theme 1: Quarries

1.1: Identification and characterisation of the historic environment in key existing or potential areas of terrestrial extraction (c £250,000 pa)
Within this programme English Heritage welcomes proposals, formulated in conjunction with and supported by local authorities, for undertaking aggregates resource assessments in counties or on landscapes impacted by aggregate extraction. We will welcome project proposals basing their methodology on the Warwickshire Aggregates Resource Assessment (soon to be available on the Archaeology Data Service website (see http://ads.ahds.ac.uk). We will especially welcome proposals which demonstrate understanding and advance the aims of the European Landscape Convention (see http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/cultureheritage/Conventions/Landscape/default_en.asp ) to characterise historic landscapes as well as identifying specific monument distributions.

1.2: Research and development of practical new techniques to locate hidden historic environment assets in aggregates landscapes; to improve our understanding of direct and indirect impacts of extraction on such assets and landscapes; and to develop practical ways of mitigating such impacts to enhance conservation and management of the resource (c £250,000 pa)
Projects within this strand of work may involve development of practical and transferable techniques for prospection and assessment, condition survey or monitoring, and mitigation. All project proposals should include a basic literature survey of similar techniques or research by way of demonstrating the additional potential value they represent. Projects providing a clear mechanism for knowledge transfer and take-up will be preferred.

1.3: Conservation and repair of vulnerable historic assets directly impacted by aggregates extraction, or directly associated with historical extraction (c £200,000 pa)
We are able to fund direct conservation and repairs to nationally significant (designated Grade II or higher, or Scheduled) historic assets which have been directly impacted by past (and possibly current) extraction. Projects within this strand must fall outside normal aggregates licence obligations or planning requirements; present a public benefit; include a maintenance plan subsequent to the funded repairs and have an outreach strategy. For information and applications see our guidance and/or download an application form.

1.4: Emergency funding for the recording, analysis and publication of nationally significant archaeological remains discovered during aggregates extraction (c £300,000 pa)
To be eligible, projects in this strand which are the subject of existing planning conditions must be able, through the written confirmation of the local authority archaeological officer, to demonstrate that best practice has been followed in implementation of planning requirements including desk-based and field evaluation to identify and characterise the site in question, and that their discovery was therefore unforeseeable.

Projects awarded planning permission without any archaeological or similar condition (for example those awarded permission prior to the implementation of PPG16) must demonstrate the national significance of materials recovered via rescue excavation. Priority will be given to current extraction discoveries but it may be possible in exceptional circumstances to provide funding for completion of analysis of investigations where the fieldwork has already been concluded.  

Knowledge transfer, communication and outreach should form part of all applications under Theme 1.

Theme 2: Marine

2.1: Identification and characterisation of the historic environment in key existing or potential areas of marine extraction (c £300,000 pa)
Seabed mapping projects in this strand will seek to improve our understanding of the disposition of vessel and submarine wrecks and lost aircraft and of inundated prehistoric landscapes for the key licensed aggregates extraction areas around England’s coast. Additional projects will undertake Historic Seascapes Characterisation to develop our understanding of the historic character of the marine zone for the key licensed aggregates extraction areas to the median line with UK neighbours. English Heritage will announce a formal tender schedule for HSC projects later in 2008. In all projects, English Heritage will prioritise projects which derive added value from existing datasets.

2.2: Research and development of practical new techniques to locate seabed historic environment assets; to improve our understanding of direct and indirect impacts of extraction on such assets and their settings; and to develop practical ways of mitigating such impacts to enhance conservation and management of the resource (c £150,000 pa)
Projects within this strand of work may involve development of practical and transferable techniques for prospection, condition survey or monitoring, and mitigation. All project proposals should include a basic literature survey of similar techniques or research by way of demonstrating the additional potential value they represent. Projects providing a clear mechanism for knowledge transfer and take-up will be preferred.

2.3 Marine historic environment training, dissemination and communication (c £50,000 pa)
The level of knowledge of our seabed and sub-surface submerged historic environment, and of the techniques that can be deployed to identify, characterise and mitigate impacts on it is at a much less well-developed stage than for its terrestrial counterpart. We are therefore keen to develop projects which will make a real, practical and tangible contribution to developing knowledge transfer among industry, marine environmental managers and practitioners. This will enhance sector capacity-building (eg through EPPIC placements), conference support, and guidance development to follow up new techniques/technologies developed under 2.2 above.

Knowledge transfer, communication and outreach should form part of all applications under Theme 2.

Archaeological projects must in addition meet English Heritage's strategic priorities for archaeology which are currently set out in the Strategic Framework for Historic Environment Activities and Programmes (SHAPE), the Corporate Strategy, Making the Past Part of Our Future and the Research Strategy, Discovering the Past and Shaping the Future.  Marine projects must meet English Heritage's strategic priorities for the marine historic enviroment which are set out in Taking to the Water.

As far as possible projects should also address the broader aganda set out for English Heritage and the Historic Environement sector as a whole in Power of Place: the Future of the Historic Environment (English Heritage 2000) and The Historic Environment: a Force for out Future (DCMS 2001).

English Heritage is committed to widening access to, and understanding and enjoyment of, the historic environment.