Planning Related Advice Professional Services Framework

Description

Natural England is the government’s statutory adviser for the natural environment in England, a statutory consultee across the terrestrial and marine planning systems, and the regulator for protected species licensing. Its purpose is to ensure that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced and managed for the benefit of present and future generations, contributing to sustainable development. The organisation plays a central role in advising on development and infrastructure planning, delivering species licensing, shaping environmental outcomes in plans and projects, and supporting the delivery of national ambitions such as the 25 Year Environment Plan. The Authority intends to establish a new Open Framework to replace the current Natural England Planning Related Advice Professional Services (NE PRAPS) Framework (established under PCR 2015), which expires in 2027. The new framework will operate for up to an eight (8) year period, with multiple suppliers appointed across a range of technical Lots. The framework will provide access to suppliers with the capability to deliver specialist planning related advice and training across Natural England’s Sustainable Development (SD) Programme. Suppliers appointed to the framework will support Natural England in meeting its statutory obligations as a consultee in land use and marine planning, infrastructure planning systems, and environmental assessments. Framework suppliers will provide expert advice on strategic plans, medium and high risk or high opportunity planning casework, and associated environmental assessments including Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA), Strategic Environmental Assessment / Sustainability Appraisal (SEA/SA), and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). They will also support Natural England’s national planning work, including input on planning and infrastructure legislation, policy and processes, and on wider environmental reforms affecting planning and assessment regimes. The scope of services will additionally encompass advice across a wide range of environmental and technical specialisms relevant to development and infrastructure (terrestrial and marine), the provision of evidence based assessments and analysis, and the delivery of targeted planning related training to Natural England staff, local planning authorities and other decision makers. This framework will support Natural England’s proactive, strategic engagement in planning and licensing, helps address short term skills and capacity gaps, and contributes to achieving better outcomes for people, places, habitats and species across England’s land and seascapes.

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