Decision details

The Council published a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) (including Strategic Environmental Assessment) and Health Impact Assessment (HIA) as part of its Final Draft (Regulation 19) Local Plan Review consultation in January 2020. SA is a process for assessing the social, economic and environmental effects of a plan and it aims to ensure that sustainable development is at the heart of the plan-making process. It is a legal requirement under planning law and is required to be updated at each stage of plan-making. The law states that the SA must also comply with requirements of the European SEA Directive. As part of its assessment of the emerging Local Plan Review, the SA needs to consider the evidence base which informs it.

Following a tender process Arcadis have been the consultant responsible for producing the SA and HIA. The overall cost for the SA and HIA work agreed in the latest contract is £23,266 exc VAT.

In addition to the above, Arcadis have had to undertake additional work since submission of the Local Plan to support the Ipswich Local Plan Review at examination totalling £5,525.

The next stage of the SA and HIA is to consider the proposed Main Modifications (MMs) required to the Regulation 19 plan to make the plan ‘sound’. These MMs come direct from The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) and are necessary to enable the plan to move forward. Following the MMs consultation the final stage of the SA will be to prepare a post-adoption statement.

The Council sought three quotes for the additional work from Arcadis, AECOM and Lepus Consulting. Neither AECOM or Lepus Consulting decided to quote for the additional SA HIA work.

In order that there is continuity in the SA work for the final stage of the Ipswich Local Plan, it is considered that the existing contract with Arcadis should be extended.

To waive contract standing orders and grant a contract extension to Arcadis for additional works for £5,525 and £22,202 (totalling £50,993)

Time Period: Until the adoption of the Ipswich Local Plan (anticipated by the end of 2021)

Reason: Main Modifications are necessary in order to have the Local Plan adopted, and in order that there is continuity in the Sustainability Appraisal process for the Main Modifications.