Purpose

Tendring District Council is commissioning an update to the Viability Study to form a key part of the evidence base for the Local Plan Review, to ensure that policies within the Local Plan are robust and deliverable and are capable of withstanding scrutiny at Examination in Public (EIP). The appointment of consultants with existing knowledge of the District and access to relevant baseline evidence and policy data represents value for money by reducing project lead-in times and avoiding unnecessary duplication of work.

Decision

To appoint HDH Planning & Development Ltd to undertake an update to Tendring District Council’s Viability Study in support of the Local Plan Review evidence base. This work includes a review of Local Plan policies and their viability over the plan period

Alternative options considered

The updated Viability Study will form part of the Local Plan Review evidence base, informing and justifying the policies set out throughout the Local Plan itself, and may be relied upon at Regulation 19 and Examination in Public (EIP).
Any future local government reorganisation and/or devolution could change plan-making responsibilities, evidence-base governance and the geographic scope of strategic planning. However, this commission supports the Council’s current Local Plan Review programme and will remain relevant evidence for the plan-making authority(ies) progressing the plan, subject to any future re-scoping that may be required.