Economic Development Strategy Renewal Consultancy Services

Descriptions

East Lothian is one of the fastest growing Council areas in Scotland with a population increase between 1998 & 2020 of 22%. We are Edinburgh’s immediate neighbour on the east coast with a mix of urban, rural, and semi-rural populations. The area’s key economic sectors include tourism, agriculture, food and drink, nuclear, manufacturing, and education. Over the next 10 years East Lothian will undergo significant change. East Lothian Council and Queen Margaret University (QMU) are delivering a state-of-the-art Hub for the food and drink sector in Scotland. The Edinburgh Innovation Hub is in a strategic location next to the QMU campus and is a catalyst for the subsequent development of a wider 21ha Edinburgh Innovation Park (EIP). Construction of the Hub will commence in 2023 and complete in 2025. The EIP will be developed over time and create a nationally significant centre of knowledge exchange, innovation, and high value growth. Six miles east the new settlement of Blindwells is under development on a brownfield site, having been deep opencast mined. The first phase is under construction comprising 1600 new mixed tenure homes, a new town centre, and significant new employment land. Further land to the east is safeguarded for potential expansion, which could accommodate up to 10,000 homes and associated infrastructure. Immediately adjacent to Blindwells is the 93ha Cockenzie Power Station site, which was acquired by ELC in 2018 to support economic growth and employment. Identified in the draft NPF4 as a site for economic development, it already has permissions for off-shore wind infrastructure and is the subject of both commercial and community development interest. Offshore wind infrastructure continues the County’s long association with power generation, started at Cockenzie and continued at Torness in the eats. In 2028, EDF’s Torness plant will be shut down for decommissioning. Significant opportunities exist for ongoing high-skilled employment at Torness during decommissioning, but the ultimate closure of the plant will be loss to the local economy. In addition to these local developments, challenges, and opportunities, East Lothian is part of a thriving regional economy and is a key partner in the Edinburgh and South East City Region Deal, where the development of a Region Prosperity Framework seeks to shape and drive public and private investment in the area in a sustainable and inclusive manner. In this context, East Lothian Council seeks to appoint an innovative consultant or consortia to work with the Council, our communities, and key stakeholders to develop and support the delivery of a 10 year Local Economy Strategy for East Lothian. The consultant will be asked to: - Analyse and review existing local, regional, and national strategy and policy - Gather data and carry out social and economic analysis, including for key sectors of our economy - Design and lead innovative consultation and engagement with our communities and key stakeholders, and - Develop and appraise options, make recommendations, and collaboratively develop policy and delivery plans. The new East Lothian Local Economy Strategy will focus major strategic activities specifically equality, inclusivity, and community wealth. Its development will be based on consultation and sound data, and policy interventions must take account of local context, and organisational capacity and resources. It should be a ‘smart growth’ strategy that builds upon existing assets, takes incremental actions to strengthen communities, and builds long-term value to attract a range of investments. Action on, and the opportunities associated with increased job density, community wealth building and fair work, economic and business sustainability and resilience, innovation and productivity, and the climate and ecological emergency are expected to be key themes of the strategy.