Purpose

The Spatial Development Framework (SDF) work brings together West Yorkshire’s five planning authorities to develop a Mass Transit joint development plan document. The proposed decision adds additional deliverables to the contract of work not envisaged when it was tendered. This includes work to support the business case activities and development of information to support the Regulation 18 public consultation and proposed descope of work no longer required in light of changes to Statutory Planning process. These changes take the total contract amount over £1M.

A decision to amendment the SDF Contract to include additional scope:

·       Change Request 1: ‘Growth Sprint, Leeds Summary & Bradford Regen Assessment’. Work carried out to generate information to support development of the strategic dimension of the business case,

·       Change Request 2: ‘Spatial Development Framework (SDF) Impact Assessments for Reg 18 Consultation’. Preparation of required documentation (Integrated Habitats Assessment) to adhere to legislative requirements for public consultation,

·       Change Request 3: ‘Business Case Support – Strategic Outline Case (SOC)’ additional scope work to support the development of the strategic dimension of the business case.

Decision

This decision authorises the following scopes of work under the SDF contract for work completed by Arup:

·       Change Request 1: Growth Sprint, Leeds Summary & Bradford Regen Assessment’. Work carried out to generate information to support development of the strategic dimension of the business case. Through this work the SDF will develop knowledge and understanding of the different corridors for Future Phases of the Mass Transit programme and the growth and development opportunities in each of these corridors and the potential value gained through delivering Mass Transit Phases. The SDF is key to supporting the Business Case and will provide backing for Phase 1 and Spatial evidence for potential future corridors for further Mass Transit stages.

·       Change Request 2: ‘Spatial Development Framework (SDF) Impact Assessments for Reg 18 Consultation’. Preparation of required documentation (Integrated Habitats Assessment) to adhere to legislative requirements for public consultation. Under this Change Request, the SDF partner will produce a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) Scoping Report to support the SDF programme. The SA incorporates a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and will make reference to a Health Impact Assessment (HIA), a Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA), and a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA). The EqIA and HRA will also be produced, and this work will be undertaken concurrently with the SA. Their production is non-negotiable to produce valid spatial policy and therefore on the critical path for the work to support the consultation process.

·       Change Request 3: ‘Business Case Support – Strategic Outline Case (SOC)’ additional scope work to support the development of the strategic dimension of the business case. Following the re-programming of the Mass Transit programme (announced December 25) there is a need to consider and reassess the evidence base related to growth for the Phase 1 Mass Transit corridor to help strengthen the business case. This resulted in the SDF partner revisiting the Growth Sprint work undertaken Aug-Dec 2025 and consider how this could be used to develop the Strategic Outline Case (SOC) and demonstrate the credentials of Mass Transit as a growth project.