Greater London Archaeology Advisory Service
The Greater London Archaeology Advisory Service (GLAAS) is part of Historic England's London and South East Regional Office and a Chartered Institute for Archaeologists' (CIfA) Registered Organisation. Working with partners, developers, archaeologists, and London boroughs, we promote understanding and enjoyment of our archaeological heritage through its protection, management and interpretation.
What is the role of the Greater London Archaeological Advisory Service?
GLAAS maintains the Greater London Historic Environment Record (GLHER) which aims to cover all aspects of the historic environment for boroughs that have opted into our service. It informs planning decisions across the capital and is the core data upon which GLAAS advice is founded.
We provide archaeological planning advice to London boroughs and the City of London Corporation. We have published a charter which explains our services and how we deliver them.
From 1 October 2026, GLAAS is being partly funded as a shared service by London boroughs and the City of London Corporation. This change has been carefully considered and discussed with the local planning authorities. It is prompted by consistency with planning responsibilities, funding arrangements outside London and prospective legislative change.
The service will continue business as usual for those councils that enter the new funding model. Customers will be advised when contacting GLAAS if any part of their site or area of interest is in a borough which has not opted in to the new arrangement.
We do not provide advice to or for boroughs which do not buy into the service. The London Borough of Southwark has its own archaeological planning advisers.
For the time being, we still hold the Historic Environment Record for boroughs which have not bought into GLAAS, but we no longer update their records. Further information on the GLHER is available here.
A list of boroughs which have opted in to GLAAS will be published here as soon as possible.
High standards and up-to-date professional methods are vital for understanding the significance of any heritage assets affected by development schemes. This understanding is a requirement of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
Aspirations to improve the public value of London’s archaeology were outlined in our paper 'Planning for London's Archaeology'. We have since updated our guidelines for archaeological projects in Greater London based on national planning policy and professional standards to place public benefit at the centre of London’s archaeology.
For GLAAS documents please see Publications and Guidance.
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