Local Plan Evidence Framework

The tender concerns the procurement of an open framework contract to supply a wide range of evidence‐based studies required for the development of local strategic plans by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and allied authorities. The framework is intended to provide a robust and compliant procurement process, enabling the authorities to gather the necessary data and analyses that underpin the review and updating of local plans within the mandated six‑month timeframe following plan adoption. Consultants engaged under this contract will deliver specialist studies across multiple planning disciplines, with the Council retaining the capacity to award up to five consultants per individual lot.

The procurement is divided into eight distinct lots covering the major sectors of local planning. Lot 1 focuses on housing, including affordability, market assessment and accommodation needs; Lot 2 addresses built and natural environment matters such as Green Belt analysis and flood risk assessments; Lot 3 covers landscape and biodiversity, requiring landscape studies, sensitivity assessments and habitat data; Lot 4 is dedicated to employment and commercial evidence, including economic needs studies and town centre use analyses; Lot 5 deals with transport and parking, providing transport evidence bases, cycling and walking infrastructure updates; Lot 6 concerns sustainability, with strategic environmental assessments, health impact studies and carbon life‑cycle evaluations; Lot 7 concerns sports and recreation, requiring facility needs assessments and open‑space studies; and Lot 8 provides full‑plan viability assessments and CIL evidence. A consultant may be awarded a maximum of three individual lots, with the three highest‑ranked lot awards considered, and any additional lot awards excluded.

Award decisions will be based solely on the quality of the proposed solutions, with no financial weighting. Consultants must be able to deliver all agreed studies within the Council’s defined timeframes and to the quality standards set by the council, ensuring full compliance with the required planning and environmental regulatory framework.

Local Authorities are required to produce a wide range of evidence base to support the development of their local plans. Including a commitment to starting a Local Plan review within six months of adoption of the plan.
In order to assist with the development of the evidence and ensure a compliant Procurement Process has been undertaken, the partner authorities have committed to the procurement of an open framework, to cover multiple disciplines in a lotted structure.
This Framework will also be available for use by the following organisations: Maidstone Borough Council, Tonbridge and Malling Borough and Sevenoaks District Council.
LOT 1: HOUSING
LOT 2: BUILT AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
LOT 3: LANDSCAPE AND BIODIVERSITY
LOT 4: EMPLOYMENT AND COMMERCIAL
LOT 5: TRANSPORT AND PARKING
LOT 6: SUSTAINABILITY
LOT 7: SPORTS AND RECREATION
LOT 8: VIABILITY
Consultants may be awarded a maximum of three individual lots. Where a consultant is successful in more than three lots, only the three highest‐ranked will be awarded, and any additional lots will be excluded.
The Council will appoint a maximum of five consultants per lot.
For more information about this opportunity, please visit the eSourcing portal at:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/tenders/UK-UK-Royal-Tunbridge-Wells:-Urban-environmental-development-planning./P8Y33P7XVV
To respond to this opportunity, please click here:
https://www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/P8Y33P7XVV

Contract location: UKJ4
Communication: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk
Languages in which tenders or requests to participate may be submitted: En
Enquiry deadline: 2026-07-31T12:00:00+01:00
Submission address and any special instructions: https://www.kentbusinessportal.org.uk
Tenders may be submitted electronically: allowed
Award decision date (estimated): 2026-08-31T23:59:59+01:00

Lot number: 1
Description: EXAMPLE EVIDENCE STUDY TYPES WOULD INCLUDE: •Housing Needs Study including affordable housing •Housing Market Assessment •Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment •Urban Capacity/Density Study •Garden Settlement study
Lot value (estimated)

625.000,00 GBP including VAT

Lot number: 2
Description: EXAMPLE EVIDENCE STUDY TYPES INCLUDE: •Green Belt Study •Strategic Flood Risk Assessment •Historic Environment Review •Conservation Area Appraisal
Lot value (estimated)

625.000,00 GBP including VAT

Lot number: 3
Description: EXAMPLE EVIDENCE STUDY TYPES INCLUDE: •Landscape Studies •Sensitivity Assessments/updates •National Landscape Setting Analysis •Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments for potential site allocations •Biodiversity evidence base •Species and habitat data •Site specific surveys (e.g. grassland/wood pasture/BNG) •Habitat Regulations Assessment
Lot value (estimated)

625.000,00 GBP including VAT

Lot number: 4
Description: EXAMPLE EVIDENCE STUDY TYPES INCLUDE: •Economic Needs Study •Town Centre uses study including retail and commercial leisure •Tourism and tourist accommodation study
Lot value (estimated)

625.000,00 GBP including VAT

Lot number: 5
Description: EXAMPLE EVIDENCE STUDY TYPES INCLUDE: •Local Plan Transport Evidence Base •Transport Strategy/Infrastructure Delivery Plan input •Parking Strategy •Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan update
Lot value (estimated)

625.000,00 GBP including VAT

Lot number: 6
Description: EXAMPLE EVIDENCE STUDY TYPES INCLUDE: •Strategic Environmental Assessment/Sustainability Appraisal •Health Impact Assessment •Energy Policy Viability Report •Climate Adaptation in buildings •Embodied carbon/lifecycle carbon assessment of the Local Plan Review, including a look at low carbon construction materials •Water capacity/efficiency study
Lot value (estimated)

625.000,00 GBP including VAT

Lot number: 7
Description: EXAMPLE EVIDENCE STUDY TYPES INCLUDE: •Indoor/Built Sports Facility Needs Assessment •Open Space Study •Playing Pitch Strategy
Lot value (estimated)

625.000,00 GBP including VAT

Lot number: 8
Description: EXAMPLE EVIDENCE STUDY TYPES INCLUDE: •Full Plan Viability Assessment for Local Plan •CIL evidence
Lot value (estimated)

625.000,00 GBP including VAT

Award criteria:

Name	Type	Weighting
Quality	quality	100%