Scheduled Ancient Monuments
In the Forest of Dean there are 92 Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs). These are nationally important archaeological sites.
Scheduled Monument Consent (SMC) is required before any works can be carried out which would have any material or visual impact upon a SAM or its setting. Before submitting an application involving works to a SAM, you are strongly advised to discuss your proposals with both English Heritage and the County Archaeologist.
It is important to be aware that it is against the law to:
- Disturb a scheduled monument by carrying out works without Scheduled Monument Consent
- Cause reckless or deliberate damage to a scheduled monument
- Use a metal detector or remove an object found at a monument without consent from Historic England.
Please note that the Council, in determining any planning application which will affect a Scheduled Ancient Monument or its setting, must have special regard to the desirability of its preservation or enhancement, under Section 58(B) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended by Section 102 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023).
Further information
To find out more about Scheduled Ancient Monuments and the implications of this status, please visit Historic England’s page on What Are Scheduled Monuments?
To find out whether an archaeological site is a scheduled monument, please visit Historic England’s Search the List or Forest of Dean Council’s Heritage Map.
To apply for Scheduled Ancient Monument Consent please visit Historic England’s page on Scheduled Monument Consent.