PREPARATION OF (I) STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT and (II) APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT FOR LAOIS COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2021 - 2027

Tender description

Laois County Council is preparing a new County Development Plan that will shape the future growth of Laois over the next 6 years and beyond. The formal notice of review of the County Development Plan – required under section 11 of The Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) – is likely to be issued in January 2020. It should be noted that Laois County Council is undertaking a full review of the Laois County Development Plan 2017-2023 in light of the significant changes required to the Core Strategy and consequential changes to other parts of the County Development Plan as a result of the adoption of the National Planning Framework and the Eastern and Midlands Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy 2019-2031. The review will take up to 2 years to complete, concluding with the adoption of the Laois Development Plan 2021-2027 in December 2021. Tenders are invited from appropriately qualified consultants to carry out the following assessments for the Laois County Development Plan 2021 - 2027: Lot 1 (i) A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to satisfy the requirements of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive (2001/42/EC), and the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. No. 436 of 2004) as amended, and all associated EU, departmental and EPA Guidelines insofar as they relate to the SEA and best practice in SEA. And Lot 2 (ii) An Appropriate Assessment (AA) to satisfy the requirements of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), in particular, for the purposes of satisfying Articles 6(3) and 6(4) of that Directive and Part XAB of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). The consultants will be required to be part of the iterative plan preparation process and assist with the making of policies and objectives which arise as a result of the SEA an AA and which arise out of the relevant mandatory and discretionary objectives set out in the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended) and the respective Guidelines. The current Laois