Outline Infrastructure and Sustainability Assessment for High Growth Areas

Cheshire and Warrington is one of the UK's economic success stories and the most productive economy in the North of England. Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington (ECW), a council-owned organisation, works alongside elected leaders to make the region the healthiest, most sustainable, inclusive, and growing place in the country. We collaborate with the three local councils, industry leaders, and community partners to shape economic and transport strategies, deliver skills training and business support, and ensure that the voice of business is heard in local decision-making.

Through its Marketing Cheshire division, ECW also champions the region as an outstanding place to live, work, invest, study, and visit. Working in collaboration with local government, businesses, educational institutes and other public, private and community sector organisations, we keep Cheshire and Warrington firmly on the map.

ECW are seeking a consultant(s) to work alongside ourselves and Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC), Cheshire East Council (CEC), and Warrington Borough Council (WBC) to conduct an initial high-level Infrastructure and Sustainability assessment at high growth places (c. 10 total areas, to be communicated to the successful bidder) across Cheshire and Warrington. Given a tight budget and timeline, initial work will be constrained to a given number of vectors and available data to enable screening at these locations and provide early evidence ahead of future detailed work.

This evidence will inform future work across the subregion, including broader energy planning, Regional Energy Strategic Plan submission development, Local Authority planning, and potential work on a Growth Plan, and Spatial Development Strategy - with the underpinning blockers and opportunities at these key high growth locations clearly noted in advance of further business case development around these sites.

The successful bidder will also need to provide a high-level sustainability analysis for the pipeline at each of the high growth places. The Cheshire and Warrington Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Strategy, recently published for consultation, states our ambition to be the most sustainable, inclusive, healthy, and growing place in the UK by 2045. It is vital that new development is carried forward in line with these ambitions, and an early pipeline assessment at each location to better understand impacts on climate and nature is vital to ensure

The successful bidder will be required to deliver services in accordance with all tender documents and the contract to be placed with the successful bidder. Tenderers are requested to study the specification in detail and ensure that the specified requirements can be met and thus your understanding of our requirements is reflected in your Pricing Schedule return.

The contract is expected to commence Thursday 16th October with the exact dates to be agreed depending on the agreement between the successful provider and ECW.