Design of an Evaluation Framework for Natural England's Planning Advice

The purpose of this contract is to develop an evaluation framework that, when implemented, will enable NE to evaluate the effectiveness of its planning advice. NE would like to look at both how its planning advice is delivered (process evaluation), the effectiveness (environmental, social and economic) of this advice (impact evaluation) and what effect this has on NE's progress towards achieving the outcomes and visions reflected in the relevant Theories of Change. NE is currently considering and designing changes to the way it delivers its planning advice. It is therefore key that the evaluation framework provides a clear methodology for evaluating the value and impact of these changes, on the achievement of NE's intended outcomes. The design of the framework should ensure that subsequent evaluations can be designed more quickly and efficiently, using the framework as a blueprint. This should save NE and its evaluators time and resource and provide assurance that evaluation design is well-informed, and evidence led.