PPG15, PPG16 and Historic Building Recording
Both PPGs stress that in order to make decisions about the appropriate conservation and protection of historic buildings, examination of a building's fabric needs to be carried out by a suitable professional. Also, such preliminary work can identify structural issues that might need to be considered during the alteration works to ensure that the building's essential historic character is not compromised. Once planning permission has been granted a planning authority might then ask for a full survey to be undertaken before the property is altered. ARCA carries out works at both phases and can also help property owners produce documentation required by local authorities. All historic building recording conducted by ARCA is carried out according to the Institute for Archaeologists' (1996, revised 2008) Standard and Guidance for the Archaeological Investigation of Standing Buildings or Structures (pdf).

Services
ARCA's historic building recording services comprise:

• Production of written schemes of investigation;
• Desk-based historical assessments of buildings (using documentary and cartographic sources);
• Initial field surveys undertaken in order to inform planning decisions;
• Full structural and historic architecture survey, either as a response to a planning condition or for research purposes.

Report Usability
Although the recording and analysis of a historic building is a necessary part of the planning process, ARCA's experience is that such work is also of inherent interest to an owner. ARCA therefore recognises that the communication of investigative results is a key part of its historic building survey service and to this end it works closely with owners to ensure that reports are suitable for multiple uses.

Find Out More
To discuss your historic building survey requirements, contact Phil Marter