Procurement of Independent Advisers and Creation of OJEU Compliant Framework

The London Borough of Lambeth has commenced an ambitious house building programme which will involve an estate regeneration programme to improve a selection of its estates and deliver additional new homes. The estates included in the programme are:

• Central Hill (to be confirmed)
• Cressingham Gardens
• Fenwick
• Knights Walk
• South Lambeth
• Westbury

The council has developed regeneration principles for the programme and detailed offers to residents affected by it. In line with good practice, the council committed to provide independent advice services throughout the lifetime of each regeneration project to affected residents so they can engage fully in the design process, consider the impact of regeneration on their estate and access individual advice as appropriate.

The council established a panel of Independent Advisors in 2014. A commitment has been made to review these services and re-procure a panel of suitably experienced and qualified Independent Advisors to work with residents across the council's estate regeneration programme.

Key areas of activity for the independent advice service include

• To provide independent and objective high quality advice to tenants, freeholders and leaseholders as well as other stakeholders including private tenants, household members and family members of residents.
• To establish an equitable outreach service in response to the diverse needs of the identified estate's residents.
• To provide residents with the knowledge and skills to enable them to make a meaningful contribution to the process of regeneration, with the opportunity to influence housing decisions which affect them.
• To work with development management teams, design teams, engagement specialists and council officers to deliver the regeneration for the benefit of current and future residents.
• To identify, develop and deliver training and capacity building sessions on specific areas of regeneration.
• To develop and deliver forward plans for communications and advice services using different methods to maximise resident involvement and engagement.
• To provide feedback from residents on regeneration processes and development outputs to the council.