---
title: "Provision of Specialist Planning Advisory Services Supporting Local Plan Development and Examination"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06ad6f"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06ad6f"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ad6f.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ad6f.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "EAST LINDSEY DISTRICT COUNCIL"
published: "2026-06-08"
---

# Provision of Specialist Planning Advisory Services Supporting Local Plan Development and Examination

Buyer: EAST LINDSEY DISTRICT COUNCIL  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06ad6f

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## Summary

East Lindsey District Council, in collaboration with Public Sector Partnership Services Ltd, is conducting a public procurement process for the provision of specialist planning advisory services. This process aims to support the development and examination of the East Lindsey Local Plan 2044. Located in Horncastle, United Kingdom, the procurement falls under the industry category of technical planning services. The procurement method used is a direct award, justified by constrained market conditions and the urgent need to meet statutory timelines. The contract period is set to begin on 17th June 2026 and may extend until 17th December 2029. Although the initial tender was cancelled on 8th June 2026, an award is pending, indicating the continued progression of this procurement.

This procurement offers significant opportunities for businesses in the planning consultancy sector, particularly those capable of delivering expert advisory services in line with national and local planning policies. It is ideal for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with relevant expertise and capacity to support local plan-making processes. The direct award process underscores the demand for niche skills and provides potential suppliers with an opportunity to establish or expand their presence within public sector contract frameworks. Businesses with a track record in navigating statutory planning requirements and previous experience with local authorities may find this an advantageous opportunity to contribute to strategic regional development initiatives.

## Notice

Provision of specialist planning advisory services to support the preparation and delivery of the East Lindsey Local Plan 2044. This includes expert advice on national planning policy and legislative changes, support in developing the evidence base, review and drafting of planning policies, and technical input to ensure compliance with statutory requirements. The services will assist the Council in progressing the Local Plan through consultation and examination stages within the mandated timeframe, addressing current capacity constraints and supporting timely, effective plan-making

### Procurement Information

o The Council has undertaken multiple attempts through standard procurement routes to secure suitably qualified specialist planning resource to support delivery of the East Lindsey Local Plan 2044. This has included recruitment of both permanent and interim staff; however, these processes have been unsuccessful in securing a sustainable solution. o Recognising the forthcoming requirement to commence plan-making activity in 2026, the Council proactively engaged the market early in the year. Despite these efforts, outcomes have been unsuccessful, with several appointments proving short-lived and resulting in disproportional use of time and budget, with limited progress achieved. o In March 2026, the Government introduced a revised plan-making system requiring local authorities to complete Local Plans within a mandatory 30-month timeframe. This has significantly increased demand for specialist planning skills across England. The market for suitably qualified policy planners is constrained, and competition across authorities is high. Given the Council's limited internal capacity, the urgent need to commence work, and prior market engagement outcomes, it is considered that further open market procurement would be unlikely to deliver a different result and would present a material risk to the Council's ability to meet statutory timelines. o A specialist provider has been identified through professional networks with the capability and capacity to meet the Council's requirements within the required timeframe. The proposal submitted: o Aligns with the Council's approved budget o Reflects rates comparable to, or below, those previously received via recruitment agencies and consultancies o Represents value for money when considering agency fees, overheads, and delivery certainty o An assessment using HMRC's CEST tool has confirmed that the engagement falls outside IR35. The proposed appointment is limited in scope and duration and will be used to support specific elements of the Local Plan 2044 programme. o On balance, it is considered that a direct award via the transparency route is justified on the basis that: o Previous competitive market engagement has failed to secure the required services o There is clear evidence of a constrained and highly competitive market o There is an urgent requirement linked to statutory timescales, with potential for Government intervention (MHCLG) if these are not met o This approach is considered proportionate, transparent, and in line with the Authority's obligation to secure value for money under the Procurement Act 2023. The risks associated with undertaking a further procurement exercise are considered to outweigh the benefits, particularly in terms of delay, delivery failure, and impact on existing staff capacity. The Authority therefore considers that there are no reasonable alternative delivery options available within the required timeframe, based on previous market engagement and current market conditions.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053651-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Direct award |
| Tender suitability | SME |
| Awardee scale | SME |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 8 Jun 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 4 Jun 2026 |
| Contract period | 16 Jun 2026 - 16 Jun 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £227,830 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Cancelled |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | EAST LINDSEY DISTRICT COUNCIL |
| Additional buyers | Missing; PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERSHIP SERVICES LTD |
| Locality | HORNCASTLE |
| Post town | Lincoln |
| Postcode | LN9 6PH |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLD3 Greater Manchester |
| ITL 3 | TLD34 Greater Manchester South West |
| Local authority | Salford |
| Electoral ward | Ordsall |
| Westminster constituency | Salford |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | IGLOO PLANNING SERVICES |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 71356400 - Technical planning services

## Release History

- 8 Jun 2026 at 09:25 - TenderCancellation - UK12 - Procurement Termination Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053651-2026
- 4 Jun 2026 at 12:11 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/052779-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/053651-2026
  8th June 2026 - Procurement termination notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/052779-2026
  4th June 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.iglooplanning.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-06ad6f. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06ad6f.json.