Decision

Award of the contract for Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment for the new Local Plan.

Reasons for the decision

RBWM requires a suitably qualified and experienced consultant to undertake Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) to support RBWM in the preparation of a new Local Plan for the borough.

Both SEA and HRA arise from statutory duties:
• SEA – Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004
• HRA – Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.

SEA and HRA are legally required because a Local Plan is a statutory plan that guides future development and may have significant environmental effects. SEA ensures that the environmental implications of the plan and reasonable alternatives are assessed at an early stage to promote sustainable development, while HRA is required to ensure that the plan will not adversely affect the integrity of protected European sites before it can be adopted.

The procurement exercise has identified a preferred supplier.

Alternative options considered

SEA and HRA are legally required because a Local Plan is a statutory plan that guides future development and may have significant environmental effects.

The RBWM Cabinet approved the publication of the Council’s formal ‘Notice of Intention to Commence’ the new local plan by no later than 25 June 2026 on 19/05/26 (https://rbwm.moderngov.co.uk/documents/g10001/Decisions%20Tuesday%2019-May-2026%2018.00%20Cabinet.pdf?T=2). Accordingly, there is no Do Nothing option with respect to the SEA and the HRA, which are statutory requirements for LPAs preparing new Local Plans.