---
title: "R083 - Local Plan Legal Support"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-0608bb"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0608bb"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0608bb.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0608bb.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "MIDDLESBROUGH COUNCIL"
published: "2026-01-19"
---

# R083 - Local Plan Legal Support

Buyer: MIDDLESBROUGH COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-0608bb

[View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0608bb)  
[Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0608bb.json)

## Summary

Middlesbrough Council has awarded a contract for "R083 - Local Plan Legal Support" to Cornerstone Chambers Limited. This procurement involved securing expert legal advocacy to support the delivery of the borough's new statutory development plan, which sets the planning framework until 2041. The process reached the "Award" stage with the contract active from 12th January 2026 to 30th June 2026, valued at £91,666 (net) and £110,000 (gross). The Council opted for a direct procurement method, indicating the contract was below the threshold and secured without competition. The awarded services focus on ensuring the Local Plan is legally sound and compliant, particularly throughout the Independent Examination and Public Hearing process, which are critical development milestones. The location of this contract is Middlesbrough, in the UKC12 region, covering business services, particularly legal consulting.

This tender represents an opportunity for businesses specialising in legal services, particularly those experienced with local government planning processes and Independent Examination support. The contract's focus on legal services linked to large-scale development plans presents substantial opportunities for law firms and legal advocates who possess the requisite planning and legal expertise. Considering the need for complex legal backing, large law firms or chambers with experience in public sector projects are optimally positioned to leverage such opportunities for growth and to expand their public consulting credentials in this sector.

## Notice

Middlesbrough Council is preparing a new statutory development plan, known as the Local Plan, which will set out the planning framework for the borough. It is forward looking, setting out development proposals until 2041, and will include planning policies that will be used in the consideration of development proposals and planning applications. As part of the plan making process, the Local Plan has been submitted to the Secretary of State who has appointed Planning Inspectors to undertake an Independent Examination, which is now underway. Part of the Examination process is the Public Hearing sessions, of which we have been advised to programme approximately 12 days for the hearings themselves. Hearing statements will also need to be prepared ahead of this during January 2026. In order to support the Council it is necessary to seek expert support through the procurement of a legal advocate, most likely a barrister who has experience of supporting local planning authorities through the examination process. The legal advocate will help to ensure the Council is in the best position to have the local plan found sound and legally compliant and be able to progress to adoption. Appointing appropriate counsel will minimise any delays in this overall process and help reduce associated overall risk, cost and operational uncertainty.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004358-2026 |
| Notice type | UK7 - Contract Details Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - without competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 12 Jan 2026 |
| Contract period | 12 Jan 2026 - 30 Jun 2026 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £91,666 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Active |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | MIDDLESBROUGH COUNCIL |
| Locality | MIDDLESBROUGH |
| Post town | Cleveland |
| Postcode | TS1 9FT |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLC North East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLC3 Tees Valley |
| ITL 3 | TLC32 South Teesside |
| Local authority | Middlesbrough |
| Electoral ward | Newport |
| Westminster constituency | Middlesbrough and Thornaby East |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | CORNERSTONE CHAMBERS |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

### Codes

- 79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

## Release History

- 19 Jan 2026 at 13:45 - Award - UK7 - Contract Details Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004358-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/004358-2026
  19th January 2026 - Contract details notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk
- https://cornerstonebarristers.com/
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-0608bb. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-0608bb.json.