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About Rob Lennox

Currently studying at the University of York, investigating the transition in planning-led cultural heritage policy in the last two decades. I am using this blog to share the findings I make during my research with the hope of stimulating debate and increasing understanding of the implications of government policy on the historic environment in England. In particular, my research focuses on the ways in which the public engage with archaeology and the ways in which we as archaeologists or heritage professionals construct the processes of knowledge gathering, and to what ends. I hope that through this blog other interested parties will be able to influence and be influenced by my observations and findings as they occur in real-time, and that ultimately it will contribute to the overall understanding of the heritage sector.

Is now the time for local heritage lists?

Posted on March 29, 2012

With the final NPPF now known and currently being digested by all interested parties, heritage practitioners can begin to think about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead (without relying on wild speculation about policy constraints). Historic environment NGOs must … Continue reading →

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Heritage responses to the NPPF

Posted on March 28, 2012

So the National Planning Policy Framework has been released. Because there is so much commentary available at the moment (just see Andrew Lainton’s furious posting over the past 24 hours) I’m going to focus my attention on the implications of … Continue reading →

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NPPF: On the outside

Posted on March 19, 2012

Since this will be my last blog before the National planning policy framework is set to be released, I thought I’d reflect on just how little we know going into the publication of the final document that is expected (although … Continue reading →

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The NPPF Rumour Mill

Posted on March 8, 2012

The release of the National Planning Policy Framework is apparently imminent, and the rumour mill is churning! But what exactly ought we to believe? Newsnight stuck its neck out to say no major changes on Tuesday 6th, but today (Thursday … Continue reading →

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Assessing landscape in the NPPF and European Landscape Convention

Posted on February 23, 2012

In the context of the recent debate over the NPPF I have wondered just how one ought to reconcile the government’s proposed policy emphasis for the spatial planning system with existing (indeed ongoing) commitments to the management of landscapes under … Continue reading →

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The war over planning reform

Posted on January 12, 2012

One of the most distressing terms to any political pragmatist must surely be ‘u-turn’; a u-turn is what any politician, party, or government do when they change their stances or opinions, or alter policies – at all, seemingly. The media … Continue reading →

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Communities and Local Government Committee report on the NPPF

Posted on December 21, 2011

The National Planning Policy Framework is in the news again today as the CLG Select Committee published its report on the policy, siding with the National Trust, CPRE, IfA and CBA in criticising its ‘confusing’ ‘vague’ ‘unbalanced’ and ‘unsustainable’ language … Continue reading →

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TAG 2011

Posted on December 17, 2011

Very interesting PPS5 based session at TAG in Birmingham today. Was good to get a wide range of opinions from Steve Townend and Ken Whittaker, Jim Hunter and Stella Jackson. So thanks to them for giving me so many ideas. … Continue reading →

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Preparing for TAG

Posted on December 7, 2011

So I’m at the very beginning of my PhD: A daunting place. First task for me is to prepare to introduce my ideas and concepts to the Theoretical Archaeology Group Conference next week on December 16th! The main purpose of … Continue reading →

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Welcome to the Of Archaeological Interest blog.

Posted on October 20, 2011

  Hi, and welcome to my blog charting the progress of my PhD project at the University of York. In December 2011 I will be beginning an investigation into the transition in planning-led cultural heritage policy in the last two decades. In particular, … Continue reading →

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