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Week Commencing 22 September 2025

What archaeological investigations are taking place across the Pipeline route?

As part of the ongoing enabling works, archaeologists working with United Infrastructure (UI) have been undertaking archaeological trial trenching and watching briefs across the route of the Main Onshore Pipeline. These works are required under National Planning policies to ensure any archaeological remains are recorded and protected.

Archaeological trial trenching

Archaeological trial trenching is a method of evaluation that is undertaken to help assess the archaeological potential of a site. It involves archaeologists digging trial trenches in 2% of the proposed working area, as agreed with the County Archaeologist to see whether there are any remains of archaeological value buried in the ground. This is an important element of the enabling works, as it informs what measures may be required to protect any potential archaeology.

All trial trenching will be undertaken by experienced archaeological contractors, who will report back to the County Archaeologist, on a daily basis to advise on findings and agree if any of the trenches can be backfilled. If anything of interest is found, further investigations will take place.

The archaeologists will also record any findings and produce a report in consultation with the County Archaeologist at the Local Planning Authority, confirming what archaeological mitigation measures may be required.

Archaeological watching briefs

There will also be a series of watching briefs undertaken by suitably qualified archaeologists across the length of the Pipeline. These will take place across the whole construction cycle, as any ground works will require an archaeologist to oversee the works and record any potential archaeological remains. So, you may see some archaeologists across the project lifecycle.

Any archaeological remains that are identified will be recorded and reported to UI, LBCCS, and to the Local Planning Authority.

Indicative image of a digger on site to excavate land for an archaeological trial trench.

Indicative image of a digger on site to excavate land for an archaeological trial trench.