Recent archaeological work in Cambridgeshire suggests that the majority of archaeological interventions resulting from the planning process are taking place in urban contexts. In partnership with English Heritage, the Extensive Urban Survey is needed to ensure that the best information is available early in the process, and also that the new information generated is being fed into a state of the art archaeological record.

The project will provide a series of up-to-date assessments of the archaeology of the historic towns of Cambridgeshire and accompanying strategies for the preservation and conservation of the urban archaeological resource. These will replace the outdated archaeological constraint maps for the relevant areas at present held by the local planning authorities, and will provide readily accessible information about known and potential archaeological constraints for planners and future developers.

The Extensive Urban Survey is contributing to the development of an integrated approach to the conservation of the historic environment in Cambridgeshire.  It involves Cambridgeshire Archaeology, professional and amateur archaeological organisations, Conservation Officers, Record Offices and local museums.  Together with other landscape and urban initiatives it forms the basis for our holistic approach to the curation of the historic environment on behalf of the people of Cambridgeshire.

The following historic towns are being studied: