Areas of Significant Archaeological Interest

The policy context

At this time Northern Ireland has eleven ASAIs designated through historic Area Plans, and also through two of the adopted Local Development Plan Strategies.  Two of these designations straddle district boundaries, demonstrating how the ancient characteristics of a landscape are not restricted  to modern administrative confines. Originally ASAIs were designated in line with policy provisions in A Planning Strategy for Rural Northern Ireland (Policy Con 6), and subsequently from 1999, in line with provisions in Planning Policy Statement 6 (para 2.6).

Now the rationale for the protection and designation of ASAIs is framed in the provisions of the Strategic Planning Policy Statement for Northern Ireland 2015 para 6.29;

“Where appropriate, LDPs should designate ASAI. Such designations seek to identify particularly distinctive areas of the historic landscape in Northern Ireland. They are likely to include a number of individual and related sites and monuments and may also be distinguished by their landscape character and topography. Local policies or proposals for the protection of the overall character and integrity of these distinctive areas should be included in LDPs were relevant. ^[1]”  This aligns with the guidance published in the Regional Development Strategy 2035 RG11, para 3.30 bullets 1 and 3.

Local Councils across Northern Ireland are presently in the process of creating local development plans for their district. Through these plans further new ASAIs can be designated and local bespoke policies created for their protection. HED’s role is to carry out work to assess candidates and in line with policy requirements, to consult the Historic Monuments Council (HMC) on their identification, before submitting character statements on each which can be used as part of the evidence base for plan-making.

Methodology in approach

In considering a landscape for identification as an ASAI, HED carry out desk-based research, fieldwork and assessment. We look to a range of evidence that can include, but which are not limited to, some or all of the following:

• Historic Environment Records held within HERoNI
• historic Maps
• orthophotographic imagery, drone and terrestrial photography
• historic documentation and published sources
• LiDAR surveys,
• existing landscape character assessments
• field inspection and observation in the landscape, considering views, approaches, and interactions with the surrounding historic and natural environment
• GIS analysis, including where appropriate the use of analytics including viewshed analysis
• placenames and traditional or cultural associations
• published guidance – Guidance on Setting.

The above list is not exhaustive and the range of evidence considered is most often dependent on the unique qualities of each individual landscape, for example skyline views may be an important quality in one landscape, while surviving historic characteristics and demonstrative time depth tracing evolution of place and function may be critical in another.

In identifying an ASAI the definition of a boundary is an important part of the process.  This can be challenging as landscapes by their nature are continuous entities, but in approaching it HED consider unique qualities of each individual landscape and where possible use surviving historic characteristics in defining the area.  Different elements of the individual landscape may be considered including natural characteristics, such as streams, valleys and ridge lines, and human made characteristics such as heritage assets, historic boundaries, routeways and roads. Viewshed from some assets and parts of an area may also in some instances be a consideration in informing boundaries, but the distinctive historic character the experiential characteristics of the landscape contained is paramount. 

Example considerations in boundary definition