WEST of SCOTLAND
ARCHAEOLOGYSERVICE
Annual Report of the West of Scotland Archaeology Service
2013/14
SummaryThis annual report covers the period from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014.
During the report period the West of Scotland Archaeology Service dealt with 1999 new
casework items, 36 more than in the previous year. This 1.8% increase is despite an
estimated 4% drop in casework generation as a result of the withdrawal of Inverclyde Council
from the Service at the beginning of the report period. This is the fourth consecutive year inwhich casework demands have grown. Monitoring of the weekly lists of planning applications
received from the ten Councils and from the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park
Authority constituted 561 of the new work items. The weekly lists are monitored to ensurethat applications raising potential archaeological issues are identified for follow-up workwhere they have not been fully dealt with at pre-application stage. From the weekly lists, andthrough direct referrals from the planning officers within the member authorities, 926 newplanning applications were identified as potentially raising archaeological issues, and afurther 512 other items of new casework were also dealt with or initiated.

New Casework 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014
Council Area
Argyll & Bute
East Ayrshire
East Renfrewshire
Glasgow
North Ayrshire
Renfrewshire
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
West Dunbartonshire
West LothianNational Park Authority
General/Multi-Council
Total

Total New Casework
Items
628
128
78
132
136
88
183
233
78
170
143
2
1999

Weekly lists

Planning Applications

Other

54
47
50
51
52
50
49
53
52
51
52

316
62
21
51
55
24
103
134
17
79
64

561

926

258
19
7
30
29
14
31
46
9
40
27
2
512

The number of new planning applications identified as potentially raising archaeologicalissues was 926, an increase of 11.2% on the previous year, accelerating beyond the level
shown by the trend over recent years, and equivalent to the levels of development seen prior
to the recent economic depression. The proportion of these potential cases which proved toraise archaeological issues (40%) was similar to the average of more recent years, meaningthat the overall numbers requiring archaeological intervention (369) increased once again.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

1Summary Table of Planning Applications 2009-2014
Nos. Identified for Comment
Argyll & Bute
East Ayrshire
East Renfrewshire
Glasgow
Inverclyde
North Ayrshire
Renfrewshire
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
West Dunbartonshire
West LothianNational Park
Total

09/10
301
82
29
51
8
53
50
69
114
34
76
14
881

10/11 11/12
327
316
60
65
15
29
35
40
8
18
46
44
23
30
54
56
102
136
31
6
98
96
19
55
818
891

12/13
244
51
32
39
15
45
28
94
134
14
83
54
833

Nos. Raising Archaeological Issues
13/14
316
62
21
51
55
24
103
134
17
79
64
926

09/10
97
32
12
13
4
19
20
35
50
11
29
4
326

10/11
82
28
6
14
2
23
12
20
56
7
42
6
296

11/12 12/13
81
80
32
25
14
8
10
10
4
9
24
22
17
9
31
36
63
65
3
8
34
33
24
27
337
332

13/14
115
24
6
16
30
11
36
58
7
36
30
369

In addition to casework items generated from weekly lists and planning applications, a further
512 items of other new work were initiated in the report period, close to the number dealt within the last year as a result of what was itself a record 62% increase (see table below, figures
for previous year in brackets).
Pre-application planning enquiries
Development Plan consultations
Permitted development enquiries
SRDP audits and other agri-environment matters
Other Archaeological Consultations
Historic Environment Record information management matters
General or SMR enquiries
Policy liaison matters
Other (includes items sent in error)
Total

153 (215)6(5)26 (30)158 (120)
18 (15)128 (119)19 (19)4(1)(1)
512 (525)

This is almost at the level of last year, which had been the third successive year that thiscategory of work had increased in numbers, and it appears that the difference in the current
report period is largely a result of a variation in the numbers of new pre-application enquiries.
Despite this, pre-application enquiries continue to be a major and important area ofcasework, as they help the development management staff in member councils to facilitate
the processing of planning applications which follow on from these enquiries. Such preapplication engagement with the Service allows potential issues to be raised at an earlier
stage, meaning that the developer can identify possible time delays and costs well inadvance, and can address them before submitting an application. This minimises thearchaeological issues still to be addressed at the application stage, and can sometimes
remove the requirement for the attachment of archaeological conditions to planning consent.
In addition to these items of new casework, work was also carried out during the reportperiod on a further 410 casework items which had been initiated in previous years. These
casework items largely involve advising on the appropriate scale of fieldwork and reporting
required to satisfy conditions on consents which have been granted in earlier years, andmonitoring such work when it is carried out by commercial archaeological organisations. This
category of work for the Service has increased by more than 40% compared to the lastreporting period, which itself had seen a growth of 20% on the previous year, and it is hard to
The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

2

escape the conclusion that this repeating trend reflects a genuine economic turn-around, withgreater commercial activity on what have been referred to as “stalled” sites which had
previously been granted conditional planning consent.
Work to digitise older paper-based casework file documents and incorporate these records
into the Service’s computerised Consultations database continued with the assistance of apart-time volunteer. This backlog data entry work re-started last year after it had halted in2010 on the departure of the Service’s part-time administrative assistant. During thereporting period, the file backlog for the second half of the 1999 calendar year, andapproximately one-third of the files for the year 2000 was scanned and cross-referenced
within the Consultations database, and corrected and enhanced entries were made on afurther 48 backlog planning application casework files which had previously been enteredonly as basic “skeleton records” attached to a simple map grid reference.
In the report period 437 new site records were added to the Historic Environment Record
database. Amendments or additions were made to 1348 existing site records, and 172
archaeological events records were added. A total of 152 archive records (index to reports
received by the Service in paper and digital formats) were created. There were 127 recorded
archaeological events (excavations, field surveys, building recording surveys, watchingbriefs, desk based assessments, etc.) during the report period.
During the reporting period, the Service assisted one PhD candidate with data for their
thesis, and assisted or liaised with thirteen local amateur archaeological or historical groups
or individuals throughout the WoSAS area in their researches or local heritage projects.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

3

1

Running the Service

1.1

The Service's Steering Group met twice during the year to consider various matters inconnection with the running of the Service. The Service’s Joint Committee met on 3
October 2013.

1.2

A surplus balance in the Service's reserve account of £122,640 was achieved at year
end (see Appendix 2). The accumulated surplus was close to what had been
projected, with minor variations in external income and projected expenditure onlargely cancelling each other out in overall terms.

1.3

The overall level of external income to the Service over the report period was broadlyas predicted. Officer time spent representing the Service and ALGAO:Scotland(Association of Local Government Archaeology Officers) at an “Ask an Expert” event
organized for the public in Glasgow by the SCAPE Trust resulted in a payment of£460 to the Service from ALGAO:Scotland. There was an increase in income from
grant-aid administered by Historic Scotland for advice provided to the Scottish Rural
Development Programme (SRDP) in its last year of operation. The Service received£7,964 in 2013-14 for the provision of archaeological advice to agricultural andforestry agents. Income from fees and charges made for the provision of mediatedarchaeological information and advice to commercial organizations was slightly below
expected levels, but remained within the range of variability recorded over recent
years. The Service’s hourly fee charge for the provision of information and advice
remained at £70 plus VAT over the report period.

1.4

The substantial increase in the number of planning applications which were flagged
up from our monitoring of the planning authorities’ weekly lists and through directreferrals from our planning officer colleagues goes beyond a simple recovery from thelast year’s slight fall, and is thought to be significant. With the exception of themassive fall resulting from the economic crisis in 2008, annual variations have been
relatively minor in the past and have tended to average out over a prolonged period.
An increase of more than 11% in these figures represents more than double theaverage variability, and is likely to reflect a genuine underlying increase inforthcoming economic activity. The number of applications which were assessed asraising archaeological issues in the current reporting period also increased in realterms on last year’s figure. This may indicate a willingness on the part of developers
to progress with proposals which require greater investment, where in recent years
these sites may have been less likely to be brought forward for development.

1.5

The Service continued to adapt its operating procedures to make more efficient useof the Councils’ e-planning systems through a new archaeological impact mitigation
system. This revised paperless working method is used to check new applications forpotential archaeological issues and to quickly identify and provide early warning ofpotentially problematic casework to planners. The revised working method included
measures taken to identify other available information sources with the potential to
improve the quality of advice provided to our members. By taking account of online
resources available from third parties, we have been able to provide morecomprehensive and accurate advice to our members on a more cost-effective andtime-efficient basis, while avoiding unnecessary duplication of digital resources andminimising our digital storage requirements. This has resulted in an improvement in
performance levels for meeting response deadlines which match the clients’ timerequirements and the Service’s own performance indicators.
The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

42

Historic Environment Record Maintenance and Development

2.1

During the report period 437 new site records were added to the Historic Environment
Record database, 1348 existing site records were amended, 172 archaeologicalevents records were added, and 152 archive records were created (index to reports
received by the Service in paper and digital formats). This was a further substantial
increase in Historic Environment Record enhancement work. In addition to these core
activities undertaken by the Historic Environment Record Officer, for a second year
the Service has benefitted from additional work carried out on an unpaid basis by aarchaeological volunteer. During the reporting period the Service benefitted from 23
man-days assistance for Historic Environment Record updating and data-entry tasks.

2.2

The Service’s web site (http://www.wosas.net) was updated over the report periodwith a further 14 news items from throughout the WoSAS area, and with monthly
updates of Historic Environment Record data. During the same period, there were justunder 570,000 “hits” on the Service website (www.wosas.net).

2.3

Continuing liaison between the Service as a member of the Association of Local
Authority Archaeological Officers (ALGAO:Scotland) and the national heritageagencies has allowed the Historic Environment Record (HER) to contribute on a costneutral basis to the development of the shared data sources which have beenoutlined as a main aim of the Scottish Historic Environment Data Strategy (SHED
Strategy).

2.4

Contact with the spatial information programme team of the Scottish Government’s
Improvement Service will ensure that the Historic Environment Record meets with thenationally-established protocols required to comply with the European Union’s Inspire
Directive concerning data access. As a benefit of this contact, the Service will be able
to freely access more up-to-date versions of digital data for which licenses had
previously to be purchased from Service resources.

2.5

During the report period, the Service assisted one PhD candidate with data for her
thesis, and assisted five amateur archaeology groups with Historic Environment
Record data for survey project purposes, in return for a commitment from theenquirers to provide a copy of any resultant information to the Historic Environment
Record. The Service also provided data and assistance to eight other individuals andcommunity groups who had need of historic environment advice, but who had noarchaeological expertise.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

53

Advice to Argyll and Bute Council
Development Plan Advice

3.1

There were no requests for assistance from the Council during the report period in
respect of development plan advice.
Development Management Advice

3.2

Over the report period 54 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 316 new planning applications were identified asraising potential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or byCouncil staff. This number of potentially significant applications means that the scaleof casework has returned to the level of previous years after last year’s moderate fall.
Argyll and Bute Council remained the largest Council user of the development
management advice service over the report period.

3.3

The 316 new planning applications received the following responses from the Service
in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011:
Refusal of planning application recommended
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition required
Avoidance/protection within or to side of development
Other condition e.g. archaeological mitigation strategy required
Refer to Historic Scotland (scheduled monument or listed building)
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

4
9
58
40
1
2
1
201

Altogether 115 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
3.4

Refusal of the submitted planning application was recommended in respect of four
proposals. Three of these were for the erection of dwelling houses in rural areas,
where the proposals were located close to a Scheduled Ancient Monument. In eachcase the detailed location or the scale of the development was assessed as being
likely to significantly affect the landscape setting of the nationally importantmonument in a way that could not be adequately mitigated. In accordance withnational and local government policy, refusal of the submitted applications wasrecommended. The fourth proposal where refusal was recommended was for a
medium-sized windfarm at Glenbarr, Kintyre, where the proposed turbines were
judged to be likely to introduce an unacceptable adverse impact on the landscapesetting of a number of important archaeological sites in the glen.

3.5

Continuing analysis of the finds made during the archaeological evaluation of a site
for housing at Dunbeg near Oban which was reported on in last year’s report has
been carried out by Argyll Archaeology Ltd. It was initially reported that the remains
found seemed likely to be of Bronze Age date (in this case, around 1,000 BC).
However, radiocarbon dating of samples taken from the site has revealed that
although some features were from the Bronze Age, different parts of the site werealso occupied in the period around 100 BC to 100 AD (the Iron Age), and in the late
7th to 9th centuries AD, the so-called “Dark Ages” or early medieval period. The site
The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

6

lies only a few hundred metres from the later medieval Dunstaffnage Castle, which
may have its origins as a defended high-status site in the early medieval period. Low
social status settlement remains from the early medieval period are not often found,so the discoveries at Dunbeg will add considerably to our understanding of how thedifferent groups in early Scottish society lived and interacted.
Other Advice within the Council's Area
3.6

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 258 other items of casework, including 50 pre-applicationenquiries, 93 SRDP consultations, and 11 enquiries from statutory undertakers.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

7

4

Advice to East Ayrshire Council
Development Plan Advice

4.1

There were no requests for assistance from the Council during the report period in
respect of development plan advice.
Development Management Advice

4.2

Over the report period 47 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 62 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or by Council staff.

4.3

The 62 new planning applications received the following responses from the Service
in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011:
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition required
Other condition e.g. archaeological mitigation strategy required
Refer to Historic Scotland (scheduled monument or listed building)
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

6
8
8
1
1
38

Altogether 24 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
4.4

Detailed discussions between the Service and archaeological contractors for thedeveloper of a housing site at Stewarton concerned the sustainability of the long-term
survival of the eroding remains of two limekilns and their associated limestone quarry.
Despite the developer’s offer to preserve the kilns within the development, theService raised concerns regarding the maintenance of the unstable remains andpublic safety, especially after control over the site passed from the developer. It was
felt that possible future remedial safety measures might result in the unrecorded lossof archaeological information. To mitigate this risk, it was agreed that the physicalloss of the kiln structures would be offset by a full analytical survey and excavation of
the remains. As many such sites have been and continue to be lost without record,
this detailed survey and excavation project would markedly increase ourunderstanding of late eighteenth and early nineteenth century agricultural practices inrural Ayrshire.

4.5

A desk-based study and a watching brief by GUARD Archaeology Ltd took place inthe policies of Dumfries House near Auchinleck. The site in question was one which
had been part of a World War II Royal Tank Corps training camp, which in 1943 hadbeen converted to use as a camp for German and Italian Prisoners of War. In 1947
the camp became a repatriation centre for Polish servicemen. Sites like this wereonce fairly common in the landscape, but have largely been destroyed without record
before their importance in military and social history terms was recognized.
Other Advice within the Council's Area

4.6

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 19 other items of casework, including 12 pre-application enquiries,
and 1 statutory undertaker enquiry.
The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

85

Advice to East Renfrewshire Council
Development Plan Advice

5.1

There was one request for assistance from the Council during the report period in
respect of development plan advice relating to archaeological issues raised by future
urban expansion to the south-west of Newton Mearns.
Development Management Advice

5.2

Over the report period 50 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 21 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or by Council staff.

5.3

The 21 new planning applications received the following responses from the Service
in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011:
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition requiredStandings buildings survey condition
Refer to Historic Scotland (scheduled monument or listed building)
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

1
1
2
1
1
15

Altogether 6 of the identified planning applications required some form of response to
mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.

5.4

The Service received a report on the results of a multi-phase programme of amateurand professional survey work, including geophysical survey, in the historic village ofEaglesham. These surveys covered the central parts of common area known as 'The
Orry', and the uphill area known as Townhead. Fifty-four previously unrecordedfeatures were identified within a relatively small area. Three areas of the Orry
including the larger open areas on the northern side of the Eaglesham Burn and thesmall open area on the southern side were investigated. Nine principal groups ofgeophysical anomalies which are archaeological in character have been identified
from the results, along with several groups of what appear to be more ephemeralfeatures. The information has been included in the Historic Environment Record, andhas shed more light on the complex past history of what now appears to be a simple
parkland area
Other Advice within the Council's Area

5.5

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 7 other items of casework, including 3 pre-application enquiries, 2statutory undertaker enquiries, and 1 SRDP consultation.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

96

Advice to Glasgow City Council
Development Plan Advice

6.1

Advice was provided to the Council in 5 instances regarding archaeological sites andareas of archaeological potential during consideration of the Local Development Plan.
Development Management Advice

6.2

Over the report period 51 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 51 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or by Council staff.

6.3

The 51 new planning applications received the following responses from the Service
in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011:
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition required
Other condition e.g. archaeological mitigation strategy requiredStandings buildings survey condition
Refer to Historic Scotland (scheduled monument or listed building)
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

3
4
6
1
1
1
35

Altogether 16 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
6.4

The Service was consulted on the historic environment implications of a proposed
redevelopment of the Scotstoun shipyard. A detailed assessment of the rich industrial
archaeological heritage of the shipyard, and of a potentially important early medievalsite thought to lie within the application area resulted in an updating of entries in the
Historic Environment Record which had been derived from historical sources. This
work established that the historically attested early medieval site on the riverside had
not been located within the modern shipyard, but some distance upstream. As aresult, the archaeological issue relating to the redevelopment proposals could be
addressed and “scoped out” at an early stage in processing the application, in
accordance with best practice recommended in current planning guidance.
Other Advice within the Council's Area

6.5

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 30 other items of casework, including 7 pre-application enquiries, 1
SRDP consultation, 1 statutory undertaker enquiry, and 2 queries from consultantsdealing with remedial safety operations on structures of known archaeologicalsignificance.

6.6

During the report period the manager of the Service represented the Council on theAntonine Wall Research Group and contributed to a consultation on the future
research priorities of archaeologists working on the Antonine Wall World Heritage
Site.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

107

Advice to North Ayrshire Council
Development Plan Advice

7.1

There were no requests for assistance from the Council during the report period in
respect of development plan advice.
Development Management Advice

7.2

Over the report period 52 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 55 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues by the Archaeology Service.

7.3

The 55 new planning applications received the following responses from the Service
in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011:
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition required
Refer to Historic Scotland (scheduled monument or listed building)
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

7
11
11
1
25

Altogether 30 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
7.4

The Council’s project for a new leisure centre near to the site of the medieval market
cross in Irvine began its site work, including the advance archaeological excavations
which had been negotiated and agreed in the previous reporting period. The targeted
and phased excavations at the core of the medieval burgh recovered important
evidence of its early development, especially the varied use of backland areas in the
medieval period, and how these changed in more recent periods. In particular,
evidence of domestic, industrial and foreign trading activities from the 13th to 15th
centuries was recovered, and its further analysis will illustrate the daily lives of thetown’s early residents in a way that was not previously possible. The Service
monitored the excavations closely to allow detailed on-site discussions with thearchaeological contractor about the implications of the finds, which in turn allowed thearchaeological project design to be implemented efficiently. Close liaison between theService and the archaeological contractor also allowed the overall development
programme to be successfully adapted where necessary in order to facilitate the maindevelopment timetable without compromising the recording of surviving sensitivearchaeological remains.
Other Advice within the Council's Area

7.5

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 29 other items of casework, including 12 pre-application enquiries
8 SRDP consultations, and 2 from statutory undertakers.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

118

Advice to Renfrewshire Council
Development Plan Advice

8.1

There were no requests for assistance from the Council during the report period in
respect of development plan advice.
Development Management Advice

8.2

Over the report period 50 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 24 new planning applications were identified as raisingpotential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or by Council staff.

8.3

The 24 identified planning applications received the following responses from theService in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning
Advice Note 2/2011:
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition requiredStandings buildings survey condition
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

2
7
1
1
13

Altogether 11 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
8.4

The continuing phased redevelopment of the former Royal Ordnance Factory inBishopton meant that further elements of the major archaeological mitigation scheme
involving historic building recording and evaluation by trial trenching at the former
were carried out in the reporting period. The complex discussions which had takenplace at the start of the project between the Service on behalf of the Council, and thedevelopers’ archaeological contractor meant that new detailed applications could beprocessed more speedily where they complied with the approved Archaeological
Mitigation Strategy for the site.

8.5

Continuing analysis of the material found during construction at the Ingliston
Equestrian Centre included radiocarbon dating of samples from the Roman enclosure
ditch. Although the range of possible dates identified includes the Antonine period of
the mid- 2nd century AD as expected, the most probable date would appear to be at
the start of the 3rd century. Although the Romans were still in southern Britain at thisdate, they had withdrawn from the Antonine Wall frontier and abandoned their forts
and installations in what is now Scotland. However, after “barbarian” raids on Roman
Britain, the Emperor Septimius Severus is recorded as campaigning in Scotland
around 208 AD, and he ordered repairs to some installations to allow a brief Romanre-occupation. The late date of the sample from this site indicates for the first timethat it may have been used by the Romans operating north of Hadrian’s Wall during
the Severan period.
Other Advice within the Council’s Area

8.6

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 14 other items of casework, including 3 pre-application enquiries, 4
SRDP consultations, and 2 statutory undertaker enquiries.
The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

12

9

Advice to South Ayrshire Council
Development Plan Advice

9.1

There were no requests for advice from the Council in respect of the development
plan over the report period.
Development Management Advice

9.2

Over the report period 49 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 103 new planning applications were identified asraising potential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or byCouncil staff.

9.3

The 103 new planning applications received the following responses from the Service
in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011:
Refusal of planning application recommended
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition required
Other condition e.g. archaeological mitigation strategy required
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

1
6
11
16
2
67

Altogether 36 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
9.4

Refusal was recommended for an application for the erection of a wind turbine at
Glenauchie, near Straiton, where the proposed turbine was judged to be likely tointroduce an unacceptable adverse impact on the landscape setting of several
important archaeological sites nearby.

9.5

Development for William Grant & Sons Distillers at the Curragh, near Girvan resulted
in a large archaeological excavation by GUARD Archaeology Ltd. The construction of
warehouses nearby in the past had shown that this was a particularly rich area for thesurvival of archaeological remains. The new excavations on the site of a drainage
attenuation pond continued this trend, and revealed several phases of prehistoric
activity in the area, including a late prehistoric palisaded enclosure with a roundhouseinside it, and other features from the earlier periods, including the Neolithic. The
relatively large number of archaeological interventions in this area over the years, andthe quality of the remains from all periods which have been identified, means that avery much improved picture has been built up of life in the prehistoric coastal
landscape of this part of Ayrshire. There is an increasing academic interest in broader
landscape archaeology studies, and the results of this series of developer-fundedinterventions are likely to complement analyses produced by research projects
elsewhere.
Other Advice within the Council's Area

9.6

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 31 other items of casework, which included 23 pre-applicationenquiries, 4 SRDP consultations, and 3 statutory undertaker enquiries.
The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

13

10

Advice to South Lanarkshire Council
Development Plan Advice

10.1

There were no requests for advice from the Council in respect of the development
plan over the report period.
Development Management Advice

10.2

Over the report period 53 weekly lists of planning applications from the Council weremonitored by the Service and 134 new planning applications were identified asraising potential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology Service or byCouncil staff.

10.3

The 134 new planning applications received the following responses from the Service
in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011:
Refusal of planning application recommended
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition required
Refer to Historic Scotland (scheduled monument or listed building)
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

4
6
19
26
3
76

Altogether 58 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
10.4

Refusal of the planning application was recommended in respect of four proposals –three of these were related to the erection of small numbers of wind turbines, either
as standalone developments, such as at Heads Inn Farm near Carnwath, or as anextension to an operational development, such as the Muirhall Windfarm on
Stallashaw Moss. In each case, the proposals were located within the sensitive
landscape setting of Scheduled Ancient Monuments, and were assessed as being
likely to adversely affect the setting to an unacceptable degree. In accordance withnational and local government policy, refusal was recommended. The other proposal
was for a housing development on the last remaining open ground which can beclearly associated with the Battle of Bothwell Bridge, a Covenanting period battle thesite of which is included in the Battlefields Inventory maintained by Historic Scotland.

10.5

The implementation of the latest phase of an archaeological mitigation strategy for alarge housing development at Newton Farm, Cambuslang by AOC Archaeology Ltd,
revealed evidence of a small rural settlement which had been occupied until the endof the eighteenth century and which this Service had suggested might have originatedin the medieval period. While consistent with a medieval date, the evidence from thesettlement was very limited, adding further weight to arguments that such sites arevery vulnerable to continuing erosion from natural processes and modern farming
practices and would be unlikely to survive within modern developments.
Other Advice in the Council's Area

10.6

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 46 other items of casework, including 20 pre-application enquiries,and 3 enquiries from statutory undertakers.
The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

14

11

Advice to West Dunbartonshire Council
Development Plan Advice

11.1

There was one request for assistance from the Council relating to the Local
Development Plan during the report period.
Development Management Advice

11.2

Over the report period 52 weekly lists of planning applications were received from theCouncil for monitoring by the Service and 17 new planning applications wereidentified as raising potential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology
Service or by Council staff.

11.3

The 17 identified planning applications received the following responses from theService in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning
Advice Note 2/2011:
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition required
Refer to Historic Scotland (scheduled monument or listed building)
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

1
5
1
10

Altogether 7 of the identified planning applications required some form of response to
mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
11.4

While no major fieldwork projects occurred in the Council area over the reporting
period, post-excavation analysis by the archaeological contractors continued on theevidence recovered from excavations undertaken in the previous reporting period.
Other Advice within the Council's Area

11.5

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 9 other items of casework, including 1 pre-application enquiry, 2
SRDP consultations, and 4 enquiries from statutory undertakers.

11.6

During the report period the manager of the Service represented the Council on theAntonine Wall Research Group and contributed to a consultation on the future
research priorities of archaeologists working on the Antonine Wall World Heritage
Site.

11.7

A new community-based archaeology group, the North Clyde Archaeological Society,with a geographical area of interest including the whole of West Dunbartonshire andthe Helensburgh area of Argyll and Bute was formed during the reporting period. At
their invitation, the Service Manager gave an illustrated lecture on the work of theService and how to use the online HER. The new society was also advised on how
their members could usefully contribute to increasing our knowledge of their history
through field survey and research. The Service offered appropriate support in kind forsuch activities.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

15

12

Advice to West Lothian Council
Development Plan Advice

12.1

There was one request for assistance from the Council relating to the Local
Development Plan during the report period.
Development Management Advice

12.2

Over the report period 51 weekly lists of planning applications were received from theCouncil for monitoring by the Service and 79 new planning applications wereidentified as raising potential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology
Service or by Council staff.

12.3

The 79 new planning applications received the following responses from the Service
in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning Advice Note
2/2011:
Refusal of planning application recommended
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition requiredStandings buildings survey condition
Other condition e.g. archaeological mitigation strategy required
Refer to Historic Scotland (scheduled monument or listed building)
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

1
11
10
10
2
1
1
43

Altogether 36 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
12.4

Implementing the provisions of the approved scheme of archaeological mitigation inadvance of the phased construction of a major housing development at Winchburgh
resulted in a major excavation by CFA Archaeology Ltd. The site in question was a
double-ditched enclosure which had been identified from aerial photographs afterplanning consent in principle had been granted. Excavation revealed that the twoditches had been dug to create an oval defended enclosure at the end of a low ridge
extending into what at the time had been boggy ground. The ditches were lessdeeply-cut on the side furthest from the entrance, where the ridge would have given
dry access, but the ditches survived to a width of several metres and a depth of nearly
two metres near the entrance. The ditch-fills contained the remains of massive, stonebuilt ramparts, which had once lined their inner edges. Frustratingly, despite detailed
and complete excavation of the interior, no features which could confirm the date andfunction of the monument were identified. Further post-excavation analysis will takeplace, but the form of the monument suggests that is likely to be a defended
settlement or farmstead of Iron Age date.
Other Advice within the Council's Area

12.5

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including Council
staff, in respect of 40 other items of casework, including 13 pre-application enquiries,
12 SRDP consultations, and 2 enquiries from statutory undertakers.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

16

13 The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority
13.1

Archaeological advice is provided to the National Park Authority under the terms of achargeable Service Level Agreement covering the whole of the National Park area. In
the year 2013-14 the National Park Authority paid £16,667 to the Service forarchaeological advice.
Development Plan Advice

13.2

There were two requests for advice and assistance from the Park Authority in respectof the local development plan over the report period.
Development Management Advice

13.3

Over the report period 52 weekly lists of planning applications were received from theCouncil for monitoring by the Service and 64 new planning applications wereidentified as raising potential archaeological issues, either by the Archaeology
Service or by Council staff. In addition further work was done in respect of 9 planningapplications submitted in previous years.

13.4

The 64 identified planning applications received the following responses from theService in terms of the advice contained in Scottish Planning Policy and Planning
Advice Note 2/2011:
Archaeological assessment or evaluation prior to determination required
Negative suspensive condition requiring archaeological excavation
Archaeological watching brief condition requiredStandings buildings survey condition
Avoidance/protection within or to side of development
Other condition e.g. archaeological mitigation strategy required
No issue, no action possible or necessary, including no issue after further work

6
12
6
1
4
1
34

Altogether 30 of the identified planning applications required some form of responseto mitigate the effects of the proposals on archaeological remains.
13.5

A desk-based assessment and walkover survey in advance of a proposed hydroelectricity scheme on the Burn of Mar identified a previously unrecorded prehistoric
burial monument. The site consists of the remains of a grass-covered chamberedcairn measuring about 25 metres by 22 metres, and up to 1 metre high. Although themonument has been heavily robbed of its stone in the past, presumably to build
nearby drystone walls, it is surprising that it had not previously been recorded as itlies only a few metres from the West Highland Way. The case serves to demonstratethat significant above-ground monuments still remain to be discovered across thecountry.
Other Advice within the National Park Authority’s Area

13.6

During the report period advice was provided to a variety of clients, including
National Park Authority staff, in respect of 27 other items of casework including 11
pre-application enquiries, 10 SRDP consultations, and 1 enquiry from a statutory
undertaker.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

17

14

Information and Advice to Developers/Agents and to Statutory Undertakers

14.1

There were 153 requests for information and advice from developers or their agents,
including 48 requests for Sites and Monuments Record digital extracts. There were
26 requests for assistance in connection with Scottish Water, Scottish Water
Solutions, Scottish Power, Scottish and Southern Electricity, and Transerve
proposals. The requests for assistance from developers and their agents raised
income of £3,360, close to the average for the previous five years.

15

Agri-Environment Advice

15.1

The Service received a grant from Historic Scotland of £7,964 in support of theprovision of advice to the fund-holders of the Scottish Rural Development Programme(SRDP). The grant was distributed proportionally across Scotland in accordance withthe total number of SRDP applications for which archaeological advice was sought
and provided. The Service was consulted for advice on 158 eligible applications to
the SRDP, a 32% increase in uptake over and above the 70% increase inapplications in the previous year. There was a proportionately larger increase in the
grant support made available from Historic Scotland in this reporting period, as thenumber of valid applications from other Council areas had not increased to the same
extent. As this was the final year of the current SRDP agri-environment grantscheme, the increased uptake may represent a final flurry of applications within theService area before the change of scheme. Consultations with central government
agencies regarding the inclusion of historic environment assets within the newEuropean agri-environment grant scheme continued during the report period. The
inclusion of a formal requirement for archaeological advice to be part of thereplacement scheme has not yet been secured, and a heightened threat to known
historic environment assets from subsidised agricultural practices may be an
unfortunate result.

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

18

Appendix 1
Annual Performance Statistics 2013-14 (figures for previous year in brackets
for comparison)
Weekly lists
The performance standard in the WoSAS Service Level Agreement for this area ofwork is 90% to be monitored and actioned within 14 calendar days of receipt.
Performance

97.84%(90.40%)Planning and Listed Building Consultations
The performance standard in the WoSAS Service Level Agreement for this area ofwork is 80% to be actioned within 21 calendar days of receipt.
Planning Applications
Argyll & Bute
East Ayrshire
East Renfrewshire
Glasgow City
North Ayrshire
Renfrewshire
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
West Dunbartonshire
West LothianLoch Lomond & the Trossachs

83.86%
83.87%
85.71%
84.31%
80.00%
87.50%
86.27%
78.36%
87.50%
81.01%
81.25%(80.40%)(74.51%)(96.88%)(79.49%)(78.26%)(71.43%)(75.79%)(75.56%)(86.67%)(83.91%)(75.47%)Overall Planning Application Performance

82.90%(79.07%)

Other Work Areas
The performance standard for this area of work is 80% to be actioned within 21
calendar days of receipt.
SRDP/Forestry Advice
Pre-Application Enquiries
Permitted Dev/Statutory Undertakings
Other Archaeological Consultations
General/SMR Enquiries

84.28%
80.39%
88.46%
72.22%
88.24%(84.17%)(82.79%)(72.41%)(81.25%)(82.35%)Overall Other Work Performance

82.58%(80.59%)The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

19Appendix 2
WEST OF SCOTLAND ARCHAEOLOGY SERVICEINCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTFOR THE YEAR TO 31 MARCH 20142012/13£2013/14£
Income140,703
25,585
1,390

Contribution from participating authorities
Fees & Charges
Interest on balances

132,467
28,451
887

167, 678

Total Income

161, 805

Expenditure
Employee Costs

136,333

Salaries, NI & Superannuation &Employee Related Costs

140,469

Administration Costs
130
4,281
10,700
91
2,988
458
0
0
1,771
20,419Fees & Subscriptions
Travel & Subsistence
Rents
Printing & Stationery
Equipment Purchase & maintenance
Catering
Postage
Purchase of services (miscellaneous)
Audit Fee

0
4,627
10,700
192
2,900
142
0
85
1,890
20,536

156,752

Total Expenditure

161,005

10,926110,914

Surplus/(Deficit) for Year
Surplus Brought Forward

800
121,840

121,840

Accumulated Surplus

122,640

The Archaeology Service of the Councils of Argyll & Bute, East Ayrshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City,
North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian,and of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park Authority.

20