Natural England requires ongoing specialist planning support to assist delivery of its Sustainable Development Programme. This includes the provision of statutory and non‑statutory planning advice on complex casework (including HRA, SEA/SA and EIA), support for national policy and legislative development across terrestrial and marine planning, and the delivery of training to address identified skills and capacity gaps.
To maintain continuity beyond the expiry of the current Planning Related Advice – Professional Services (PRAPS) Framework, which ends on 31 March 2027, Natural England intends to re‑procure a multi‑supplier framework of similar scope. This will enable the continued delivery of statutory duties, sustain casework performance, strengthen strategic engagement in the planning system, and support improved environmental outcomes.