By the late 1990s it was clear that the coastal historic environment was under-investigated and records in the National Monuments Record (NMR) did not provide an adequate evidence base for responding to challenges posed by climate change and Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management (FCERM). Consequently, English Heritage initiated the national RCZAS programme.
The RCZAS have two main phases:
- Phase 1 (Desk-Based Assessment) draws on data from aerial photographs, LiDAR, historic maps and charts, the local authority Historic Environment Records (HERs), the NMR, and other sources. Data are captured in a GIS with supporting data-bases, to nationally agreed data standards.
- Phase 2 (Field Assessment) comprises a rapid walk-over survey, designed to verify records from Phase 1, locate and characterise site types not visible from the air, and assess significance and vulnerability. In some cases additional work, especially scientific dating, has been necessary to characterise sites fully.
The outputs consist of enhanced HER and NMR records, together with client reports for English Heritage. The information gained will enable us to make a better-informed input to the FCERM process, and will help to ensure effective mitigation of the effects of coastal change through the 21st century. It will also provide a data-base for use in further research and in the development control process.
In the English Heritage National Heritage Protection Plan (Activity 3A2) current projects include:
- Severn Estuary. Phase 2
- South East England Phase 1 (North Foreland to Poole Harbour).
- North West England. Phase 2.
Work in South West England has yet to start, though the North Devon AONB NMP project will provide a beginning in this financial year.
Surveys for all other regions are completed and are available on the website.
