Planning Consultancy

Tender description

UK Power Networks (UKPN) intends to conduct a procurement event for the provision of Planning Consultancy. This will be split into 4 x Lots as follows. You can bid for 1 or more Lots.Further detail is contained within the Request for Information document. High-level detail as follows: Lot 1: Planning Services and Support What services shall be provided: The scope of the contract will cover services that allow UKPN the ability and the capacity to fulfil any statutory planning requirements under the Town & Country Planning Act 1990, General Permitted Development Order 2015 & Planning Act 2008 (NSIP), and any other relevant legislation across the company operational estate. Lot 2: Biodiversity Net Gain Support and Unit Reservation What services shall be provided: The contract will cover services that will allow UKPN the ability and the capacity to fulfil their requirements as may be set out under the Town & Country Planning Act 1990, the Environment Act 2021 and any other relevant legislation across the company's operational estate. This may include but is not limited to: • Advice in relation to achieving BNG requirements in relation to planning applications; • Representing UKPN's interests at a local and national policy level in relation to future amendments to the BNG legislation (e.g. amendments to the exemptions regulations, local BNG policy targets etc); • Supporting the planning application process to confirm and ensure BNG delivery; • Identification and management of purchase of 3rd party biodiversity units; and • Support on UKPN's BNG strategy (both in relation planning applications and OFGEM commitments). Lot 3: Highways/Transport Services and Support What services shall be provided: The contract will cover services that will allow UKPN the ability and the capacity to fulfil their requirements as may be set out under the Town & Country Planning Act 1990, the Highways Act 1980 and any other relevant legislation across the company's operational estate. This may include but is not limited to: • Production of Transport Assessments/Statements; • General advice on the highways/transport impacts of proposed development or construction activities; • Production and co-ordination of Construction Traffic Management Plans to support planning applications; • Management of S278 application process; • Production of technical and civil drawings in accordance with highways specifications to support S278 applications. Lot 4: Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Support What services shall be provided: The contract will cover services that will allow UKPN the ability and the capacity to fulfil statutory and non-statutory engagement requirements as may be set out under the Town & Country Planning Act 1990, National Planning Policy Framework (NPF), local planning policy and any other relevant legislation across the company's operational estate. This may include but is not limited to: Lot 1: Planning Services and Support Lot 1: Planning Services and Support What services shall be provided: The scope of the contract will cover services that allow UKPN the ability and the capacity to fulfill any statutory planning requirements under the Town & Country Planning Act 1990, General Permitted Development Order 2015 & Planning Act 2008 (NSIP), and any other relevant legislation across the company operational estate. This may include but is not limited to: • Seeking pre-application advice from Local Planning Authorities for new sites and development. • Obtaining planning consent for new development; • Supporting and coordinating legal agreements as may be required by the planning process; • Seeking consent for the demolition of existing buildings; • Obtaining consent for extending existing sites or works on existing land and buildings; • Obtaining material and non-material amendment consents for existing permissions; • Change of use applications; • Associated applications for non-electricity uses (domestic/commercial); • Seeking consents for construction compounds associated with overhead line / underground cable transition; • Seeking exemptions from the S37 regime for overhead lines; and • Provision of general advice in relation to permitted development activities and activities associated to the provision of our statutory undertaking. Provision of third-party services: Also, it is intended that when required and not sourced directly by UKPN, the associated requirements be sourced, coordinated, and managed by the successful bidder to provide seamlessly joined-up delivery. This will include: • Party Wall Agreements (both associated with new project work and 3rd party); • Rights of Light; • Rights of Air; • Landscape assessment and design; • Contamination / Ground / Soil investigations & reports; • Noise surveys; • Ecology and Biodiversity Net Gain Reports; • Arboricultural Assessments; • Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Assessment; • Highways and transport assessments (including Section 278 agreements); • Communication consultants; • Lighting assessments; and • Flood Risk Assessments and drainage reports. Lot 2: Biodiversity Net Gain Support and Unit Reservation Lot 2: Biodiversity Net Gain Support and Unit Reservation What services shall be provided: The contract will cover services that will allow UKPN the ability and the capacity to fulfil their requirements as may be set out under the Town & Country Planning Act 1990, the Environment Act 2021 and any other relevant legislation across the company's operational estate. This may include but is not limited to: • Advice in relation to achieving BNG requirements in relation to planning applications; • Representing UKPN's interests at a local and national policy level in relation to future amendments to the BNG legislation (e.g. amendments to the exemptions regulations, local BNG policy targets etc); • Supporting the planning application process to confirm and ensure BNG delivery; • Identification and management of purchase of 3rd party biodiversity units; and • Support on UKPN's BNG strategy (both in relation planning applications and OFGEM commitments). Purchase of 3rd Party Biodiversity Units: It is intended that the successful bidder will be able to provide access to the purchase of biodiversity units across the UKPN region. The provision of these units will be sourced, co-ordinated and managed by the successful bidder to provide a seamless joined up delivery. This may include but is not limited to: • A reservation agreement for biodiversity units anticipated to be required for the delivery of UKP''s statutory undertaking; • The delivery of a unit bank for the purpose of UKPN's use within their DNO area; and • Purchase of Biodiversity units on a project by project basis to deliver BNG as required by legislation. Lot 3: Highways/Transport Services and Support What services shall be provided: The contract will cover services that will allow UKPN the ability and the capacity to fulfil their requirements as may be set out under the Town & Country Planning Act 1990, the Highways Act 1980 and any other relevant legislation across the company's operational estate. This may include but is not limited to: • Production of Transport Assessments/Statements; • General advice on the highways/transport impacts of proposed development or construction activities; • Production and co-ordination of Construction Traffic Management Plans to support planning applications; • Management of S278 application process; • Production of technical and civil drawings in accordance with highways specifications to support S278 applications. Provision of 3rd party services: It is intended that, if the successful bidder is unable to provide the following services, they will be sourced, co-ordinated and managed by the successful bidder to provide a seamless joined up delivery. This may include, but is not limited to: • Provision of Road Safety Audits in accordance with S278 requirements; and • Undertaking of speed and traffic count surveys. Lot 4: Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Support What services shall be provided: The contract will cover services that will allow UKPN the ability and the capacity to fulfil statutory and non-statutory engagement requirements as may be set out under the Town & Country Planning Act 1990, National Planning Policy Framework (NPF), local planning policy and any other relevant legislation across the company's operational estate. This may include but is not limited to: • Providing Stakeholder Engagement strategies align with planning and consenting programmes. • Co-ordinating and supporting engagement with local political stakeholders. • Supporting and co-ordinating engagement with third party local stakeholders (e.g. schools, community groups). • Producing collateral required to support stakeholder engagement strategy (e.g. letters, websites and display boards). • Organising and supporting in-person and online engagement events required to support planning applications and construction activities. • Production of Statement of Community Involvement's as required to support planning applications. • Support in responding to and engaging on complaints and objections that may arise during the planning process. • Provision of general advice in relation stakeholder engagement and communication for UKPN's activities associated to the provision of our statutory undertaking. Provision of 3rd Party Services: It is intended that the associated requirements to the stakeholder engagement and communication activities be sourced, co-ordinated and managed by the successful bidder to provide seamlessly joined up delivery. This may include, but is not limited to: • Print and display services; • Distribution activities (posting and delivery of letters and notifications); • Hire of venues required for engagement events; and • Graphic design and website design services.