Studies and Investigations: Town, Country and DCO Planning Services

Tender description

Southern Water Services Ltd. intends to enter into a Framework Agreement for the supply of Town, Country and DCO Planning Services as detailed in II.2.4). Southern Water is carrying out a Market Engagement exercise and invites potential suppliers to contribute to the market research. Southern Water's aim is to better understand market capabilities. Lot 1: Provision of planning and consenting services to support project development including but not limited to: 1. Permitted development: • Guidance and support in interpreting, testing and confirming applicability and use of permitted development rights under the General Permitted Development Order, ensuring use of permitted development rights are maximised where possible. • Supporting, reviewing and/or preparing EIA screening opinions to confirm applicability of EIA and permitted development rights. • Leading on preparation and submission of screening direction requests to the Secretary of State where necessary. • Preparing and managing submissions or notifications to local authorities to either confirm permitted development rights or undertake permitted development works, coordinating all necessary inputs and engagement with stakeholders as required. 2. Planning submissions: • Advising on planning and consenting requirements, including strategy, schedules, resources, key issues, etc. from early stages of project development; aiming to avoid high risk of project refusal, and ensure gaining planning permission as straight-forwardly as possible while minimising the application of planning conditions. • Managing the planning application process from pre-application through to decision (including application preparation, submission, negotiation, monitoring, representation and engagement), including advising on strategy, engagement, consultation, and other matters arising as required. • Undertaking stakeholder engagement and public consultation as required to support the planning process. • Supporting and advising on the preparation of EIA scoping requests and environment statements, and preparing/supporting/reviewing other assessments and documentation necessary to support planning submissions as required. • Advising on and supporting post-application requirements and conditions to enable project delivery. • Collaborating with and where necessary managing other disciplines and SMEs required to support planning application requirements. 3. Planning appeals: • Advising on applications so as to minimise the potential for planning refusal. • Advising on appeal strategies, key issues, resourcing, timescales, risks, etc.. • Managing the preparation and submissions of planning appeals and related documentation, coordinating all specialist inputs required, reviewing specialist/expert inputs and working closely with SMEs, technical disciplines, expert witnesses, legal teams, etc. • Managing and reviewing inputs into appeal proceedings including hearings and public inquiries, coordinating resources as required. 4. Planning policy: • Advising on and preparing representations to local plan reviews and regional and national policies and strategies to promote and protect Southern Water’s interests, working closely with relevant Southern Water Teams including Future Growth and Enabling. • Engaging with local authorities and Government bodies/regulators, and coordinating inputs from key stakeholders as necessary. 5. NSIPs • Advising on NSIP thresholds, consenting strategies, timescales, governance, resourcing requirements and 2008 Planning Act/DCO requirements. • Leading on and coordinating inputs to s35 direction requests and managing related stakeholder engagement. • Managing the overall pre-application and examination processes, and leading on related planning and consenting activities, including planning strategy, policy compliance, need case, DCO deliverables, local planning authority and PINS engagement. • Advising on and supporting activities and outputs of other key disciplines including engagement, consultation, EIA, design, engineering, lands/property, and legal. Additional information: Southern Water will hold a virtual presentation day on Tuesday 17th January 2023 at 12pm. If you wish to attend the presentation, please share your email address using the Bravo message function by no later than 13th January 2023 3pm.