21217 - Partnering Consultant for Retail Planning

Partnering agreement in order to be able to procure planning guidance, advice and support, and evidence base work in relation to retail and other town centre uses.\r

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The Council is aware that retail developments can be some of the most contested in the planning world, with the potential to raise significant strategic and technical issues. Additionally, in an ever changing context (e.g. the rise of internet shopping, Brexit, COVID, climate emergency, national planning policy and legislative changes on class E, and permitted development) it is a significant challenge to define an appropriate strategy for how retail and town centre uses are to be provided for in a local plan.