Find out how archaeology can be a bonus not a blocker. Photo: Prestwich Fire Station finds open to the public.

How archaeology and built heritage can unlock developments and strengthen place

04/03/26

Find out how archaeology can strengthened planning outcomes, gain community support and foster belonging and identity at this free online event on 23 March

Festival of Place Bytesize is back. The popular free series of online lunchtime learning events is taking place on 23 March with a session on archaeology, bringing together developers and scientists to talk heritage and place. Anyone can register to attend for free.

Breaking Ground: How archaeology and built heritage can unlock developments and strengthen place is a 90-minute session focussed on how archaeology can be an asset for places – from what to save from 20th century architecture to the risks and rewards of Roman finds, from sparking belonging to community engagement.

The event is run in association with Civic – and will see their in-house archaeologists giving a sneak peak at some unique finds from sites in the UK with two case studies.

An excavation revealed the well-preserved structural remains of Prestwich Fire Station, which was originally a wagon shed. Location: Prestwich Fire Station

Cannon closed the brewery in 1999. Now, Capital&Centric is aiming to create a neighbourhood with places for residents to live, work, and relax , while keeping the site’s industrial heritage front and centre. Location: Cannon Mill

The event will also bring in developers and other speakers to share real-life examples where archaeology has strengthened planning outcomes, gained community support and fostered identity.

Among speakers for this Bytesize event are Civic’s Co-Directors of Archaeology & Built Heritage, Katie Fletcher and Ollie Cook. Fletcher specialises in heritage management, while Cook works on the planning and delivery of fieldwork projects.

They will be joined by colleague, Graham Mottershead, Associate Director at Civic’s Archaeology & Built Heritage team. Mottershead oversees all aspects of project delivery, from consultation and fieldwork through to stakeholder liaison and public engagement.

Louise Brennan, Director of Region, will join the discussion to bring to the table 26 years of experience at Historic England and extensive experience in place-led regeneration.

Richard Spackman, Development Director at Capital&Centric completes the line up as the developer’s project, Cannon Brewery, takes the stage for a deep dive case study.

The audience will follow the story of integrating this 20th century complex into residential flats whilst retaining key character elements.

A former church and burial ground will also be spotlighted as archaeological excavation of the Christ Church Salford unlocks an informed design.

View these case studies as speakers share perspectives on the future of creative retrofit and why tomorrow’s heritage assets may be late 20th century buildings.

The surviving foundations of the Christ church walls were exposed, showing construction of hand-made brick bonded with hard, light greyish-white lime mortar. Location: Christ Church

The former Brewery has sat empty since shutting its doors in 1999, but now the 4.2 acre site is set to be a major catalyst for regeneration in the area by Capital&Centric. Location: Cannon Mill

Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how archaeology requirements are triggered and managed in live schemes and gain practical insight into reducing project and cost uncertainty.

Festival of Place Bytesize is a series of free lunchtime events with fresh takes on existing challenges delivered in 90 minutes, ideal for CPD during the lunchtime session, sign up to attend for free.

Learn how policy requirements play out in practice, how discoveries are managed, and where heritage insight can genuinely add commercial and placemaking value.

23 March 2026, 12pm

How archaeology and built heritage can unlock developments and strengthen place

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