Customers gain from engaging us early in the project programme because we identify risks to the project from heritage and archaeology. We then work with other members of the team to manage risks and minimise impacts on the cost and programme.
We prepare risk assessments and inputs to optioneering, which feed into desk-based assessments, field surveys and/or environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and International environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs). Our reports set out a strategy for managing archaeological/heritage issues, and inform the client and design team of legal obligations and planning constraints.
At the planning stage, we consult with local conservation officers and archaeological planning advisors to obtain the best information possible. This is followed up, as needed, by assessment and surveys for the EIA or planning application, and recommendations for mitigation. Archaeological surveys may include evaluation trenching and/or geophysical surveys by our own staff or by subcontractors.
During detailed design we work with design teams to reduce the archaeological risk by designing out physical impacts and issues of settings. Mitigation by design is usually the most cost-effective method of addressing risk to the historic environment.
Should field surveys or mitigation by excavation be required before or during the development, we manage the process for our clients by producing scopes of works, tendering and appointing archaeological contractors to carry out the fieldwork, and managing the fieldwork to achieve a beneficial outcome for the project. We have a well-established supply chain of subconsultants and subcontractors who respond to project requirements and whom we are confident will complete on time and budget.
Our expertise on historic landscapes is recognised by our customers. We advised the Highways Agency on the potential for removing the A303 highway from the vicinity of the Stonehenge world heritage site. Our work included preparing an account of the cultural perception of Stonehenge through recorded history.
We work on development projects throughout the world. Although we maintain a core team of experts, they work with local sub-consultants and archaeological contractors to ensure local knowledge is captured and best value is offered to the client, whilst maintaining the high quality assurance we give to our clients.
Sectors
We provide archaeological services support for environmental assessments of all types of scheme and infrastructure development in the following sectors:
- Housing
- Mining, oil and gas
- Power and renewable energy
- Public sector
- Retail and industrial
- Transport (rail, road and shipping)
- Water
Detailed services
- Consent applications and management
- Heritage statement and desk-based assessments for planning applications
- Historic building assessment
- Historic environment input to environmental impact assessments
- Historic environment risk assessments
- Historic landscape assessment
- Input to optioneering and development design
- Management of archaeological survey, evaluation and mitigation fieldwork.
- Negotiation with national and county regulators
- Regulatory and planning advice
- Tendering and appointment of archaeological contractors
- Written schemes of investigation to discharge planning conditions