DD1456 Modifications to the SHLAA system

1.1 The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) system was developed in 2013 (MD1050) to work in collaboration with London Borough Planning departments. The overarching aim of the system is to identify parcels of land in London that are suitable for the construction of dwellings.

1.2 A number of changes and enhancements are planned for the 2016 update of the SHLAA system including the ability to:

• Add new map layers.
• Add sites (containing parameters not previously used) arising from the LLC (London Land Commission) Register (as approved by DD1415).
• Allow GLA officers to change the full range of policy constraints and calculation parameters to accommodate changes as required by the new Mayor of London.
• Carry out new types of modelling based on changing / uncertain criteria
• Allow London borough planning departments to test new scenarios in relation housing capacity and density.

1.3 ADD281 approved to carry out changes to the SHLAA system, which included some of the items in the list above. However, in the intervening period, a number of factors have changed, in particular the creation of the LLC Register and therefore, this approval supersedes and replaces ADD281. None of the work outlined in ADD281 has happened to date and therefore that budget is being allocated for the changes and enhancements planned for 2016.

2.1 The objectives of this project are:

• To carry out a brief review of the current SHLAA system
• Agree the list of amendments by priority order
• Develop, test and implement the new features

2.2 Exemption from the Contracts and Funding Code

The SHLAA system was produced in 2013 by OpenIQ Ltd. The system is completely bespoke and built in its entity by the supplier to fit specific GLA requirements. From a technical perspective, it is a highly complex system containing extensive coding that allows Planning Officers to run sophisticated algorithms. These algorithms calculate/model the capacity and density of housing that can be built on a particular plot of land under various scenarios that are themselves based on planning regulations issued by government, central and local.
The additional functionality sought in this approval is an extension of current functions which the supplier has unique knowledge of and built up over a long time of both developing and supporting the SHLAA system. OpenIQ is therefore in a unique position to provide these services.

3.1 In keeping with established GLA practice, all relevant new (or amended) developments of the SHLAA system is aimed to meet the standards set out by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) Web Accessibility Initiative’s AA standard. It is not considered that the system will adversely impact on any group with protected characteristics.

4.1 This project relates directly to the Mayor’s Housing Strategy and the ability to respond quickly to the Housing and Planning priorities of the new Mayor.

4.2 The changes proposed in this document are the result of a number of consultations involving GLA teams in Housing and Planning. Additionally, consultations have been carried out with London Borough Planning departments, who have all agreed with the proposals.

4.3 The only major risk perceived is the tight timeframe for completing the essential work ahead of year end. As mitigation, a priority order of functions will be produced and the developer will carry out the work strictly in accordance with the agreed priority.

5.1 Approval is sought to spend up to £30,000 on updating the Planning team’s SHLAA system as detailed in this report. The anticipated costs are:

• Up to £25,000 for the analysis, development, testing and live release of the functionality.
• Up to £5,000 for providing technical support to the system for 2 years.

5.2 All costs will be met from the London Plan budget allocated to this under ADD281 that approved £50,000 spend on SHLAA in 2015. The work and spend described in ADD281 did not happen and therefore this approval is now being sought to carry out the enhancements described in this decision. It is anticipated that the work will happen by the end of this financial year (2015-16).

6.1 Sections 1 to 5 of this report indicate that:

6.1.1 the decisions requested of the Director (in accordance with the GLA’s Contracts and Funding Code) fall within the GLA’s statutory powers to do such things considered to further or which are facilitative of, conducive or incidental to the discharge of its general duties; and
6.1.2 in formulating the proposals in respect of which a decision is sought officers have complied with the Authority’s related statutory duties to:

• pay due regard to the principle that there should be equality of opportunity for all people (further details on equalities are set out in section 3 above) and to the duty under section 149 of the 2010 Act to have due regard to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation as well as to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not ;

• consider how the proposals will promote the improvement of health of persons, health inequalities between persons and to contribute towards the achievement of sustainable development in the United Kingdom; and

• consult with appropriate bodies.

6.2 Section 4 of the Contracts and Funding Code (the ‘Code’) requires the GLA to seek three or more written quotations in respect of the services required or call off the services required from an accessible framework. However, the Director may approve an exemption from this requirement under section 5 of the Code upon certain specified grounds. One of those grounds is that the approval of the exemption is on the basis that OpenIQ are appointed due to their unique knowledge in providing compatibility with an existing service. Officers have indicated at paragraph 2.2 of this report that this ground applies and that the proposed contracts affords value for money.

On this basis the Director may approve the proposed exemption if satisfied with the content of this report.

6.3 Officers should ensure that appropriate documentation is put in place and executed between the GLA and OpenIQ for the provision of the services.