Legal services

Tender description

Established in June 2016, Strategic Estates delivers capital investment in the Parliamentary Estate. Comprising more than 30 buildings, 70 % of the Estate is listed and 2 buildings are Grade I listed: — the Palace of Westminster; Norman Shaw North. To support Strategic Estates in delivery of a significant programme of capital investment which includes but which is not limited to the Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme and the Northern Estate Programme, the authority requires to secure specialist legal services in the field of planning law [‘the Services’]. The Services will support strategic Estates in securing the necessary planning and related consents for both capital investment projects and major capital maintenance projects (as required). The Corporate Officer of the House of Lords and the Corporate Officer of the House of Commons acting jointly of the Houses of Parliament, London, SW1A 0AA are intending to establish a single supplier framework agreement to secure legal services in the field of planning law [‘the Services’]. It is envisaged that the Services will be ‘estate wide’ and promote a joined up, holistic approach to this specific area of law. Supporting Strategic Estates major capital projects and capital maintenance works including the Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme and the Northern Estate Programme, the Services will include but not be limited to legal issues in relation to: — town and planning procedures, — highways procedures (including procedures for stopping up of highways and traffic regulation orders), — heritage issues including conservation areas, listed buildings and world heritage site issues, — environmental impact assessment including screening and scoping, — community infrastructure levy, — compulsory purchase and compensation, — planning appeals and call-in, — judicial review and other legal challenges, — development plan representations, — neighbourhood planning, — access to information including application of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004 in liaison with and with the approval of the Office of Speaker’s Counsel and the Counsel to the Chairman of Committees and other strategic advice as may be required by the authority.