Central Register of Planning Permissions (Discovery and Alpha)

Tender description

Why the Work is Being Done Access to reliable information on planning applications is important for the housing market to work better. Government committed to deliver a central register of residential planning applications in Autumn-Budget 2017, to improve information for users of the planning system on where planning permissions are held, and enable better monitoring of progress towards homes being built. With this discovery/alpha, MHCLG is seeking to: (discovery) develop a deeper understanding of user needs and challenges of making planning data more accessible on a national basis; and (alpha) identify solution options to create an immediate digital, open an authoritative source of planning application data. Problem to Be Solved Requirements for English local-planning-authorities is to publish specific information on planning-application-registers. This is done by different ways with data of varying quality being presented by authorities-in- different-formats. There is no single source of residential-planning application-information nationally. Data is not freely accessible in a consistent format. This creates-barriers to planning-application-data to enable creation of new-digital-services to support the planning-system and housing-market. More fundamental-future-changes to technical-data-standards and local-authority-software may enable a more sophisticated register to be developed. In short-term we are keen to explore ways where data is collected-within-current-constraints and presented in a format to build digital products or to analyse data. Who Are the Users The discovery will identify and validate detailed user needs. These are broadly: As a local planning authority I need to publish planning applications for my area in a standard way that helps me to monitor permissions and build out. As MHCLG, I need access to local authority data on planning applications to understand their geographical spread and progress against build out, to target Government interventions effectively. As a property technology firm, I need reliable open data on planning applications to develop new services and products. As a property developer, I need insights into planning applications nationally to find developable sites. Early Market Engagement Not applicable. Work Already Done The Digital Land team has completed a broader discovery phase looking at the state of housing and land data. We looked at specific information needed to make decisions on where, when and whether to build, as well as how to get planning permission and scope to develop digital products that open up the marketplace. We were particularly interested in the needs of the ‘PropTech’ sector building services to benefit the housing market. We found many points of friction including data held locally in varying formats and not being available online. Data that exists is difficult to find, use and trust. Existing Team The successful supplier will liaise with an MHCLG project manager in the Department's Digital Directorate and will be expected to work closely with the MHCLG Digital Land Services team, reporting progress into a directorate project board and established planning reform programme governance. The supplier will also be required to engage with other departmental subject matter experts including policy leads for Digital Land and the planning application process. Current Phase Not started Work Location All work will be delivered from the MHCLG office located at 2 Marsham Street, London, SW1P 4DF. Travel/expenses to the primary site in 2 Marsham Street cannot be reimbursed by MHCLG. Working Arrangments The supplier is expected to work onsite alongside existing teams for at least 3 days a week for face-to-face meetings. The supplier should demonstrate effective use of Agile principles and established project management approaches to enable MHCLG project manager and board to monitor progress and resolve problems. The supplier will also be expected to work openly and allow anyone in the Department to have visibility of progress. The supplier will be expected to engage with local planning authorities, planning software/data providers, as well as land/property technology companies and potentially a cohort of house-builders/their agents who submit planning applications. Security Clearance Team members will require CTC clearance or above whilst working on site. Please make it clear whether staff have CTC or not when submitting your responses. BPSS clearance will also be required to access MHCLG's ICT systems. Additional T&Cs All materials/outputs derived from the contract shall be the property of MHCLG. GDPR requirements shall be discussed and agreed with the preferred supplier at the appropriate time. Skills & Experience Evidence of delivering within the Government Digital Services design standards Experience of conducting user research Experience of having delivered user-centred web-design Evidence of meeting skill requirements based on the anticipated composition of the team Nice to Haves Provide evidence of delivering similar types of projects with a similiar Show experience of having delivered data management frameworks, including practical strategies and policies, for the management of data – its use and quality Show experience of being successfully assessed against the Digital Service Standard Show experience or understanding of the planning application system No. of Suppliers to Evaluate 3 Proposal Criteria Approach and methodology Team structure Timescales to deliver the project Technical solution Flexible approach from supplier Cultural Fit Criteria Provide details (with specific examples) of where you have worked with Public Sector organisations Demonstrate (with specific examples) how you work with internal Demonstrate (with specific examples) how you take responsibility Explain (with specific examples) how you are able to manage difficult stakeholders Payment Approach Time and materials Assessment Method Written proposal Case study Work history Presentation Evaluation Weighting Technical competence 45% Cultural fit 15% Price 40% Questions from Suppliers Budget range budget range for this requirement is between £70,000 - £90,000 team composition could include: agile delivery manager, user research, design & amp; content design, technical architect/developer. it is up to suppliers to suggest how they would use the above roles within the range of budget mentioned above.