Updates

Any development has the potential to impact our heritage, but the response varies according to the significance of the site, and local planning regulations. Vistry have worked closely with Chichester District Council, SLR Consulting and Archaeology South East (UCL) and extensive archaeological surveys have already taken place, as part of agreed pre-determination and post-determination work that identified areas of archaeology across the Tangmere SDL site. Therefore, the current site investigations are merely the next and final phase of investigation and recording prior to the eventual commencement of development. For more information on how this process works, check the Association of Local Government Archaeological Officers.

Also known as commercial or contract archaeology, these are archaeological investigations that are carried out as a condition of planning permission for development projects. Developers are required to fund archaeological assessments and excavations to mitigate the impact of their project on our cultural heritage. This is regulated through the planning process, usually with the archaeological work specified as a condition of planning permission, in this case a condition on the outline planning permission, which Members have resolved to grant subject to completion of the legal agreement, for residential development. This ensures that significant remains are identified, assessed, and if necessary, excavated before development proceeds. This helps us understand and value our heritage and provides a sense of place for the eventual future occupiers and residents of the Tangmere SDL.

Although the work is conducted by an archaeological contractor, usually a private company, it is overseen by a public archaeologist employed by the local authority. The archaeological contractor works with a range of partners, including the developer, local partners, as well as the local community to make sure we can all benefit from what the investigations uncover.

The process involves a series of stages including desk-based assessment, field evaluations, and when necessary full-scale excavations. Archaeologists use a variety of techniques, such as geophysical surveys and trial trenching, trying to locate and investigate archaeological remains. For more information on how archaeology is regulated, check the pages on the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists. At this stage, our work will allow us to fully excavate, record and understand the archaeology of Tangmere, as well as create a plan for sharing our discoveries with the public.

Unfortunately, the archaeological excavations are not open to the public. However, please sign up for updates and we will inform you of any open days that may be happening in the future. Currently we are not accepting volunteers, but it is our hope that we can build partnerships with local groups to create opportunities for outreach and engagement.

Evidence from the site, including its artefacts, will be analysed by a team of experts, published and ultimately handed over for storage along with the entire site archive to the local museum (the Novium). We will share the story of the site using this evidence in as many ways as we can going forward.

Please sign up for updates and continue to check this website for news of exciting archaeological discoveries at Tangmere.