LEADING global sustainability and environmental consultancy SLR Consulting has significantly expanded its footprint across the Midlands, establishing a growing regional archaeological hub backed by a 70-strong national network of specialists.
The expansion is anchored by the strategic appointment of Gareth Davies to lead the Midlands team as archaeology technical director. A Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (FSA) and Member of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (MCIfA), Davies brings three decades of commercial and academic experience to lead the newly integrated Midlands team split across Nottingham and Birmingham.
To support this regional growth, SLR has deployed key technical and fieldwork expertise directly to the hub. GIS specialist Ben Turner joins the team as associate archaeologist, while experienced field archaeologist Jessica Stevens steps into the role of senior archaeologist to lead on-the-ground regional operations.
Gareth brings a history of practical success on high-profile developments such as the transformation of Nottingham Castle, Nottingham Express Transit (NET) Phase Two project and the Our City Our River (OCOR) campaign in Derby. Alongside his commercial experience, Gareth is an active researcher and completed a PhD at the University of Nottingham, which has informed decades of academic work focused on medieval archaeology and heritage.
Gareth Davies said: “I have joined SLR at an exciting time for the business as it continues to grow its archaeological offering both across the Midlands and nationally. What attracted me was the opportunity to take a broader perspective on archaeology’s role within sustainability, placemaking and climate-related challenges, while helping to grow a commercial service within a multidisciplinary consultancy.
“SLR’s collaborative approach gives clients access to a wide range of expertise beyond archaeology alone, allowing us to deliver more integrated solutions across development projects. Commercial archaeology shouldn't just be a compliance box to tick; we are demonstrating how archaeological data can actively inform design, environmental improvements and habitat data.
“As the Midlands team continues to expand, we’re focused on maintaining the quality and character of our service, while demonstrating how archaeology can contribute positively to areas such as social value, heritage engagement and sustainable development.”
Following the Wardell Armstrong acquisition in 2024, SLR gained a full field of experts with a combined team of over 70. This national network includes the team behind the globally acclaimed 'Uncovering Roman Carlisle' project – an award-winning, internationally significant excavation that discovered a high-status imperial complex on Hadrian's Wall that featured on National Geographic.
The expansion into the Midlands bridges a critical geographic gap, bringing this same tier-one fieldwork capability and massive infrastructure experience directly to local regional developers to meet growing demand.
Rory Bates, built environment sector lead – Europe at SLR Consulting, said: “Expanding our archaeology team in the Midlands is a pragmatic step to meet growing regional developer demand. Our clients navigate complex planning and risk environments, and having a dedicated team that provides both consultancy and fieldwork locally is a major advantage.
“By combining this hands-on heritage expertise with our broader built environment disciplines – like GIS and environmental advisory – we can help de-risk projects early on, ensuring commercial developments progress smoothly while still delivering real social value and community benefit.”
SLR’s archaeology team is a registered organisation with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA), as well as holding FAME and ISO accreditations.
For more information on SLR Consulting and its archaeological services, head to https://www.slrconsulting.com/eur/services/archaeology-heritage/