Tender for a Blaby District (New) Local Plan Sustainablity Appraisal

Blaby District Council invites tenders from suitably experienced consultants to undertake a Sustainability Appraisal to support and inform a new Local Plan for the District.

The consultants will be required to review and build on the plans, programmes & procedures review and baseline data (produced in-house), and undertake all further elements of Sustainability Appraisal (SA). The work will incorporate the requirements of the Strategic Environmental Assessment or 'SEA' Directive (SEA) , in order to support the timely delivery of the Local Plan. Any reference to SA in this brief is deemed to include the requirements of SEA.

Blaby District Council is looking to engage consultants to review and finalise Stage A of the five stage approach to Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment, and to undertake stages B, C and D at a later date. The tasks required include:

Stage A: Setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline and deciding on the scope

a) Review the Council's summary of relevant plans and programmes, baseline information and identification of key issues; and adding to these where necessary. b) Develop SA objectives. c) Consult with the relevant Consultation Bodies. d) Produce a SA Scoping Report.

Stage B: Developing and refining alternatives and assessing effects

a) Test the emerging Local Plan Objectives against the SA objectives. b) Test reasonable alternatives / scenarios against the SA objectives. c) Predict and evaluate the potential effects of emerging Local Plan spatial options and initial policy areas (including alternatives). d) Consider ways of mitigating potential adverse effects. e) Propose measures to monitor the environmental effects of the Local Plan.

Stage C: Preparing the Sustainability Appraisal Report

a) The Council will expect the consultant to prepare an SA Report to accompany each stage of consultation for the Local Plan. The reports will be updated at each stage and expected to document the SA process taken to date, assess all objectives, policies and proposals, appraise effects and make recommendations for mitigation and monitoring.

Stage D: Consultation

a) Seek representations on the report from statutory consultation bodies and other interested parties (including the public where appropriate). b) Appraise any significant changes resulting from the consultation and amend the SA report accordingly