The deal creates a combined business with an annual turnover of £108 million and 1,340 employees across a network of 26 offices in the UK and Ireland.

Sweco said MLM Group’s specialist expertise in structural engineering and compliance will complement its own skills in transportation, environment, energy and building design.

Established in 1966, MLM Group is one of the largest, privately-owned engineering, environmental and building control consultancies in the UK. Its 13 offices are predominantly located in London, Southern England and Ireland.

The move follows a successful four years for Sweco since it entered the UK market with the acquisition of Grontmij in 2015. Since then, the business has achieved year-on-year growth and consulted on a wide range of landmark projects. These include Scotland’s Queensferry Crossing, the new Bloomberg European Headquarters in London – the world’s most sustainable office building – and the modernisation of research sites for the British Antarctic Survey.

MLM Group, which employs 460 people, has an annual revenue of approximately £40m and EBITA of approximately £4m.

Max Joy, president of Sweco UK, said: “This acquisition marks the start of an exciting new chapter in our UK growth story. The combination of Sweco and MLM Group’s expertise in transport, buildings and environmental engineering will enhance our value proposition to customers while opening up new opportunities in key markets.

“We believe the combination of Sweco’s established expertise in building design, with MLM’s specialist structural engineering capabilities and world-class compliance offer is a compelling proposition for new and existing customers. MLM’s presence in the South East of England and Dublin, is an excellent fit with our existing office network, providing an enlarged geographic footprint which brings us closer to our clients.

“Our businesses have a strong cultural fit, and we remain focused on being the most approachable and committed partner to our clients, while driving sustainability across the built environment.”

Steve Oliver, chairman at MLM Group, said: “We’re proud of the achievements our business has made in its long history and this deal accelerates our long-term growth ambitions by becoming part of a leading, global consultancy whose values mirror our own.

“We will leverage the significant expertise we have across the business to continue to drive sustainable growth for Sweco in the UK, while creating new opportunities for the development of our committed workforce.”