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Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) Services for the East Lothian Local Development Plan

East Lothian Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

05 Oct 2026 at 01:00

PCS Notice - Website Prior Information Notice
Summary of the contracting process

East Lothian Council intends to commission consultants to assess the effects of its area-wide Local Development Plan on habitats under the Habitats Regulations. The work includes a Habitats Regulations Appraisal and a report to inform any Appropriate Assessment. The appraisal must follow NatureScot’s November 2023 guidance for plan-making bodies in Scotland. The consultant will be expected to consult NatureScot on the appraisal’s scope, any draft Appropriate Assessment and a working final draft of the appraisal record, and to take its views into account. The plan covers East Lothian; the work concerns the council’s development plan and its potential effects on protected habitats.

This is at the planning stage: the council has stated its intention to procure and is conducting market engagement, not inviting tenders through this process. The council may contact interested suppliers through a questionnaire or market engagement events. It anticipates publishing a further notice on 30 October 2026. The Proposed Local Development Plan is due in March 2027. The procurement is described as consultancy services, with one planned lot. If changes to the plan are recommended following an Examination in Public, further assessment may be required. No procedure, contract duration, estimated value or evaluation criteria are set out at this stage; the scope and procurement approach may change, and any future contract is not guaranteed.

This will suit environmental consultancies with demonstrable experience in Habitats Regulations Appraisal for plans in Scotland and the expertise to produce an appraisal record and evidence for an Appropriate Assessment. Suppliers should be able to apply NatureScot’s 2023 plan-making guidance, assess potential effects on habitats, consult effectively with NatureScot and incorporate its views so the appraisal is accepted as satisfactory. Capacity to undertake follow-on assessment if plan changes are recommended after examination may also be relevant. The council is seeking appropriately qualified and experienced consultants and is using market engagement to understand potential supplier interest ahead of any future competition. Firms able to deliver this work now or in the future can prepare to engage as the council develops its requirements.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) Services for the East Lothian Local Development Plan

Notice Description

East Lothian Council is preparing an area wide Local Development Plan (LDP), with the Proposed Plan due in March 2027. As part of this work, a formal assessment under the Habitats Regulations will be required. East Lothian Council is now seeking to appoint consultants to carry out a Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA), including a report to inform the Appropriate Assessment, and invites quotes and tenders from appropriately qualified and experienced consultants for this work. The consultant engaged will carry out a Habitats Regulations Appraisal following the methodology set out in NatureScot's "Habitat Regulations Appraisal of Plans - Guidance for Plan-making bodies in Scotland" revised in November 2023. The consultant is expected to consult NatureScot where appropriate, and in particular should consult them on scope of the HRA, the draft of any Appropriate Assessment required, and on a working final draft of the Habitats Regulations Appraisal Record. NatureScot's views must be taken into account such that they accept that the HRA has been satisfactorily carried out. Should the Proposed Local Development Plan be subject to recommended changes through an Examination in Public, this may lead to further assessment work to assess changes recommended to the plan.

Lot Information

Lot 1

East Lothian Council is preparing an area wide Local Development Plan (LDP), with the Proposed Plan due in March 2027. As part of this work, a formal assessment under the Habitats Regulations will be required. East Lothian Council is now seeking to appoint consultants to carry out a Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA), including a report to inform the Appropriate Assessment, and invites quotes and tenders from appropriately qualified and experienced consultants for this work. The consultant engaged will carry out a Habitats Regulations Appraisal following the methodology set out in NatureScot's "Habitat Regulations Appraisal of Plans - Guidance for Plan-making bodies in Scotland" revised in November 2023. The consultant is expected to consult NatureScot where appropriate, and in particular should consult them on scope of the HRA, the draft of any Appropriate Assessment required, and on a working final draft of the Habitats Regulations Appraisal Record. NatureScot's views must be taken into account such that they accept that the HRA has been satisfactorily carried out. Should the Proposed Local Development Plan be subject to recommended changes through an Examination in Public, this may lead to further assessment work to assess changes recommended to the plan.. The purpose of this PIN is for market engagement only. Information provided is not exhaustive and is subject to change. By noting interest please be aware you may be contacted during future market engagement, in relation to potential future contracts within the scope of this PIN - this could be in the form of questionnaire or market engagement events etc.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000844751
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT565899
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
PCS Notice - Website Prior Information Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

90 - Sewage, refuse, cleaning and environmental services

CPV Codes

71410000 - Urban planning services

90711400 - Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) services other than for construction

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
5 Oct 20262 days ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Oct 20264 weeks to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
East Lothian Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
HADDINGTON, EAST LOTHIAN
Postcode
EH41 3HA
Postcode Area
Edinburgh
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM1 East Central Scotland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM11 East Lothian and Midlothian
Delivery Location
TLM73 East Lothian and Midlothian
Local Authority
East Lothian
Electoral Ward
Haddington and Lammermuir
Westminster Constituency
Lothian East

Further Information

Notice Documents

  • https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT565899
    Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) Services for the East Lothian Local Development Plan - East Lothian Council is preparing an area wide Local Development Plan (LDP), with the Proposed Plan due in March 2027. As part of this work, a formal assessment under the Habitats Regulations will be required. East Lothian Council is now seeking to appoint consultants to carry out a Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA), including a report to inform the Appropriate Assessment, and invites quotes and tenders from appropriately qualified and experienced consultants for this work. The consultant engaged will carry out a Habitats Regulations Appraisal following the methodology set out in NatureScot's "Habitat Regulations Appraisal of Plans - Guidance for Plan-making bodies in Scotland" revised in November 2023. The consultant is expected to consult NatureScot where appropriate, and in particular should consult them on scope of the HRA, the draft of any Appropriate Assessment required, and on a working final draft of the Habitats Regulations Appraisal Record. NatureScot's views must be taken into account such that they accept that the HRA has been satisfactorily carried out. Should the Proposed Local Development Plan be subject to recommended changes through an Examination in Public, this may lead to further assessment work to assess changes recommended to the plan.

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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