Content

To approve the extension of the
contract for landscape support services until April 2028, to
support the Council’s engagement with Nationally Significant
Infrastructure Projects and its local plan-making and
decision-taking functions.

Reasons for the decision

The Planning Service is seeking
approval to extend its current landscape support contract through
to April 2028, at a value of up to £120,000.
 
The appointed consultancy has
been providing landscape advice to the Council since November 2024,
primarily supporting work on Nationally Significant Infrastructure
Projects (NSIPs), including the proposed Fens Reservoir. The
contract was originally let on a temporary basis while the Council
explored the option of recruiting an in-house Landscape
Architect.
 
However, considering recent
announcements regarding local government restructuring, and now
that there is a clearer understanding of the scale and duration of
the workload, it is considered more practical and cost-effective to
continue with external specialist support. This approach is
consistent with existing arrangements for securing arboricultural
advice for planning.
 
The current provider has
established effective working relationships with internal teams and
external partners. They have attended multiple project briefings
and reviewed detailed technical submissions, enabling the Council
to respond to NSIP proposals effectively and within statutory
timescales. Retaining this expertise will ensure continuity and
allow the Council to continue to influence the design and
development of major infrastructure projects at a critical
stage.
 
Over the coming months, the
Council will be required to engage proactively in the preparation
of several Development Consent Orders. This will include responding
to statutory and non-statutory consultations and participating in
technical working groups, including those focused on landscape and
masterplanning. Landscape advice may
also be required to support large-scale or sensitive planning
applications and emerging planning policy documents, including the
Local Plan. 
 
Without dedicated landscape
support in place, there is a risk that the Council would be unable
to fully assess and respond to complex technical documentation.
This could result in missed issues with potential adverse impacts
on local communities, the environment, and the quality of new
development.
 
The contract will be funded
primarily through planning fees associated with NSIPs and major
development proposals. Any landscape input required to support
plan-making activities will be funded through the Plan Making Grant
received by the Council in March 2025.
 
Although the contract extension
runs until April 2028, the arrangement will be subject to regular
review. Either party may terminate the contract at any time by
providing one month’s written notice.

Alternative options considered

Option 1: Recruit an in-house Landscape Architect
 
This option was considered when
the current arrangement began. However, ongoing local government
restructuring creates uncertainty around long-term staffing. The
workload linked to major infrastructure projects is also variable,
making a permanent role less cost-effective. Continuing with
external support provides greater flexibility and avoids
recruitment delays and costs.
 
Option 2: Do not extend the contract and manage without
specialist landscape support
 
The Planning Service does not
currently have the specialist landscape expertise needed to assess
complex infrastructure and major development proposals. Without
dedicated support, there is a risk that important landscape impacts
would not be fully identified, leading to poorer outcomes for
communities, the environment, and development quality.
 
Option 3: Appoint a different external consultant through a new
procurement
 
A new procurement would cause
delays and require a new provider to become familiar with ongoing
projects. This would risk losing continuity and momentum at a
critical stage in major infrastructure proposals. Retaining the
current provider ensures consistency and represents better value
for money.