Cheshire and Warrington Energy Plan Consultancy

Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington, in collaboration with Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, and Warrington Borough Councils, is looking to hire a consultancy to develop an Outline Energy Plan for Cheshire and Warrington. This plan will provide essential data to support local growth initiatives and investment opportunities, aid future spatial development, and facilitate participation in the NESO Regional Energy Strategic Planning (RESP) process. The consultancy will create a robust local evidence base to assess current and future energy demand and advocate for investments in energy infrastructure that align with local growth goals and the Sustainable and Inclusive Economic Strategy, which aims to support the transition to clean energy and meet government targets for Clean Power by 2030. Clean energy is crucial for the growth ambitions of Cheshire and Warrington, leveraging existing and upcoming infrastructure projects (such as VisNet, Gas Storage Facilities, HyNet, and HALEU) to lead in clean power and industrial decarbonization. This infrastructure will enhance growth prospects, making Cheshire and Warrington an appealing location for housing, business development, and reindustrialization. To capitalize on this opportunity, we need to: 1. Understand our current energy demand. 2. Conduct light scenario planning to predict changes in energy generation and demand over the next 5-10 years. 3. Provide early evidence for RESP, DSO, and NGET to secure necessary grid reinforcements. 4. Analyze the integration of various energy transition strategies across the region. 5. Attract investment in key energy projects that support broader economic development in Cheshire and Warrington. This project will lay the groundwork for attracting investment in the region by clarifying current and future energy infrastructure needs, supporting business cases for major developments hindered by grid limitations (like the Mersey Ring), and positioning the area favorably for national funding opportunities in 2027-28 through DSO ED3, potential T3 re-openers, and the NESO RESP process. This Invitation to Tender (ITT) outlines the necessary information to evaluate bidders based on their technical approach, stakeholder engagement, quality assurance, project management strategies, and overall value for money to fulfill the requirements for developing the Cheshire and Warrington Outline Energy Plan.