Development of a series of evidence based strategic planning policies to the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority

Tender description

Lee Valley Regional Park Authority (hereinafter “the Authority”) has a requirement for the development of evidence based strategic planning policies required to ensure that the Authority continues to fulfil its statutory purpose in a rapidly changing environmental, economic and social context. The Authority requires a robust set of strategic policies to guide the Park given its location in a major growth area with London’s population set to rise to 10.11m by 2036 . The Authority has a planning function defined under section 14 of the Lee Valley Regional Park Act 1966; this includes a requirement to prepare proposals for the future management and development of the Park. The effects of this rise in population poses both threats and opportunities to the role of the Park. For example, the threats include the degradation of habitat and the need for the retention of open space as flood mitigation in the face of development pressures. The opportunities include the potential for the Park’s open spaces and venues to provide more opportunities for recreation and leisure to address health inequalities and encourage active lifestyles. The Authority’s adopted Park Plan includes both strategic policies and detailed proposals. The former were adopted in 1998 and the latter in 2000 http://www.leevalleypark.org.uk/en/content/cms/corporate/enhancing-the-valley/park-plan-/ . Work on the replacement of detailed proposals is underway through the Authority’s Park Development Framework http://www.leevalleypark.org.uk/en/content/cms/corporate/enhancing-the-valley/consultation/ . It is important that the strategic policies are reviewed and a new set adopted to ensure that the Regional Park can respond to the challenges for the period 2016-2036.