Integrated Landscape Evidence and Advice Framework Agreement

Description

NRW is looking to appoint suitably qualified and experienced landscape consultants through the award of a framework agreement in order to support our statutory and advisory roles in the planning application and development plan processes in Wales and in other consenting regimes and environmental assessment processes. Lot 1: Development Planning Advice Consultancy Services Provision of specialist advice on the potential landscape and visual impacts from development proposals to inform NRW’s responses to planning application and development plan consultations. This will include: - Providing landscape planning advice to be used in NRW’s responses to planning application consultations, and Development Consent Order (under Planning Act 2008) consultations (including statutory and discretionary pre-application advice). This will include reviewing seascape, landscape and visual impact assessments and Environmental Statements submitted by applicants. - Providing landscape planning advice to be used in NRW responses to scoping consultations submitted under The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Wales) 2017 Regulations and The Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) 2017 Regulations. - Providing expert witness advice at Public Inquiries (including those in relation to NSIPs, DNSs, Infrastructure Consents) and provide advice to be used as part in written representations made by NRW at inquiries, hearings, or examinations in relation to a proposed scheme. - Providing advice to be used in NRW’s responses to development plan consultations. - Providing expert advice to be used by NRW in written representations at an Examination of a development plan and provide expert advice to development plan Hearings. - Providing advice to be used by NRW when advising on masterplans, Supplementary Planning Guidance, landscape management plans and environmental strategies/plans. Lot 2: Advisory and Consenting Casework consultancy services Providing advice on the potential landscape and visual impacts on: - Woodland Creation proposals to inform our determination of woodland creation applications - proposals contained within draft Forest Resource Plans - tree-felling proposals to inform our determination of tree-felling licences Developing procedural and technical guidance and provide training on landscape and visual amenity and impact considerations in the development and assessment of, and when considering - woodland creation schemes. This will include guidance aimed at NRW staff responsible for assessing woodland creation proposals, and guidance published by NRW (e.g. on its website) to inform scheme proponents. - Forest Resource Plans - tree-felling licence applications, and guidance for those considering making an application - Providing expert witness advice at appeal hearings, and advice to inform NRW’s submission as part of written representations to appeals in respect of - Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Wales) Regulations 2017 related consultations to also include expert advice to inform NRW’s submissions to infraction casework - tree-felling licences Providing advice to be used in NRW responses to screening and scoping consultations and when reviewing Environmental Statements submitted under: - EIA Agriculture Wales Regulations 2017. Develop procedural and technical guidance, and provide training, on landscape and visual impact considerations in the context of NRW’s landscape advice under EIA Agriculture Wales Regulations 2017. Providing landscape and visual impact advice to inform our advice to screening and scoping consultations submitted to us as consultees under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (England and Wales) 1999 Regulations. Reviewing and providing advice on landscape and visual impact assessments submitted to us as part of Environmental Statements as consultees under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (England and Wales) 1999 Regulations. Developing procedural and technical guidance, and providing training, on: - how and when to consider landscape and visual impacts; and - how to fulfil NRW’s various roles. under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (England and Wales) 1999 Regulations. Lot 3: Landscape and Visual Impact Training & Guidance Developing procedural and technical advice and guidance for NRW staff, and aimed at planning authority staff and developers on landscape and visual impact considerations that relate to: - the assessment of development proposals, and - the siting, layout and design of development proposals. Further, developing and delivering training relating to landscape and visual impact considerations pertinent to the planning system and to different development types aimed at NRW staff and planning authority staff who are involved in: - considering planning applications - assessing undertaking development plans. Training will be provided predominantly via MS Teams remotely. The provision of face-to-face training will only be in agreement with the contract manager prior to delivery and subject to cost and demand. The contractor(s) may also be asked by NRW to provide a risk assessment prior to any face-to face training. Contractor(s) may be asked to provide, collect, and assess on-line and anonymous pre- and post-training feedback forms as agreed with NRW and may be required to provide a report post training delivery outlining: - attendance - effectiveness of both the training material and mediums - potential learning opportunities - future improvement opportunities of both the training material and training mediums - any constrains including technical issues identified - a register and assessment for evidence/pledge forms submitted - findings based on feedback forms submitted