The local Planning Authority will often require an Archaeological Survey prior to, or alongside, the submission of a Planning Application. Procuro Planning Services have carried out many of these surveys and have never identified anything of archaeological, historic or other interest!
A ‘watching’ brief of the development site may also be required in order to allow a local or national Archaeological Society to carry out observations and record any findings. This is not a particularly onerous requirement and certainly goodwill can prevail on both sides with regard to any sensitive development.