Desk Based Assessment (DBA)

A Desk-based assessment (DBA) will determine, as far as is reasonably possible from existing records, the nature, extent, and significance of the historic environment within a specified area. A DBA will establish the impact of the proposed development on the significance of the historic environment and will enable decisions on whether further mitigation is needed or not.

DBA’s are very detailed and comprehensive documents. They include all possible historical information that is available including aerial imagery, historical maps, and archive material. A DBA can inform the Council that archaeological work would be needed prior to development or that the likelihood of archaeology being present is very low. A DBA takes some time to complete due to its nature and so its best to arrange a DBA to be completed in advance of any proposed works taking place as this would need to be accepted by the Local Planning/County Archaeologist.