The team’s skills complement the heritage project management services undertaken by Mouchel’s management consultancy as well as the historic built environment services Mouchel provides as part of 2020 Liverpool, a joint venture between the company and Liverpool City Council.

Rachel Morse, principal archaeologist at Mouchel, said "The formation of the archaeological services team brings additional Mouchel capability, allowing the Group to provide independent advice as part of its project teams on a range of archaeological services.

"If considered at the outset of a project, archaeological services permit an early appraisal of the key issues, ensuring that unexpected costs and delays are avoided."

The specific services offered by Planning and Consultation's new team include: independent advice on all archaeological issues; pre-acquisition archaeological appraisals/risk audits; desk-based assessments; preparation of briefs, specification, tendering and management of archaeological fieldwork; negotiations with local authority, government and non-governmental organisation advisers on archaeological proposals; historic landscape assessment; and discharge of conditions on statutory consents and planning permission.