Section one: Contracting authority
one.1) Name and addresses
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
Wirral
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKD74 - Wirral
Justification for not providing organisation identifier
Not on any register
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Regional or local authority
one.5) Main activity
General public services
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Regeneration of land around and at Hind Street, Birkenhead, Wirral
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 45000000 - Construction work
two.1.3) Type of contract
Works
two.1.4) Short description
Wirral Borough Council (the "Council") intends to enter into a Master Development Agreement with Ion Property Developments Limited ("Ion") for the development of closely connected land (including land owned separately by the Council and Ion). The development will see the comprehensive regeneration of a substantial brownfield site with the intention to bring a minimum of 1,400 new homes to Birkenhead, supporting Wirral Council's 2021-2037 draft Local Plan. The phased development will create a new vibrant neighbourhood that will directly connect to and support the resurgence of the town centre. The Gross Development Value (GDV) for the project is estimated to be in the region of £550,000,000 to £575,000,000.
two.1.6) Information about lots
This contract is divided into lots: No
two.1.7) Total value of the procurement (excluding VAT)
Value excluding VAT: £575,000,000
two.2) Description
two.2.2) Additional CPV code(s)
- 45111000 - Demolition, site preparation and clearance work
- 45211000 - Construction work for multi-dwelling buildings and individual houses
- 45213000 - Construction work for commercial buildings, warehouses and industrial buildings, buildings relating to transport
- 45300000 - Building installation work
- 45400000 - Building completion work
- 70000000 - Real estate services
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKD74 - Wirral
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
The Master Development Agreement enables the Council and Ion to enter into Phase Development Agreements on satisfaction of conditions. The location of the site is land south and north Of Hind Street/ Blackpool Street, Waterloo Place, Birkenhead, Wirral and has a site area of 26.27ha. The site is made up of various parcels of land including land owned by both the Council and Ion, and the individual land parcels are intrinsically linked. Of particular note, as part of the regeneration of the site there is a requirement to demolish a flyover which straddles land that is owned by the Council and land that is owned by Ion. The Gross Development Value (GDV) for the project is estimated to be in the region of £550,000,000 to £575,000,000.
The proposed development includes temporary compounds and access routes required to facilitate the works. The site is to be developed with a residential led masterplan, based on the principles of sustainable urban design. A minimum of 1,400 residential units will be constructed with supporting and ancillary commercial, business and service uses (Use Class E), Local Community and Learning uses (Use Class F), and Hotel (Use Class C1).
The development is proposed to be split across five phases and primarily include demolition of the existing buildings and structures and construction of residential houses and apartments as well as ancillary uses. Enabling works are proposed to take place from Autumn 2025 with the first construction of new homes anticipated to commence in 2027. Ion will apply to the Secretary of State for Transport for a stopping up order under section 247 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, which permits an order to be made for the stopping up/ diversion of a highway necessary to enable development to be carried out in accordance with a planning permission.
Further information regarding the development can be obtained online (https://www.wirral.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning-permission/search-planning-applications - planning reference OUT/23/01259).
two.2.5) Award criteria
Price
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The Master Development Agreement is a 15 year agreement with the option of 10 year extension.
Section four. Procedure
four.1) Description
four.1.1) Type of procedure
Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the cases listed below
- The services can be provided only by a particular economic operator for the following reason:
- protection of exclusive rights, including intellectual property rights
Explanation:
The works can only be provided by a particular economic operator due to the protection of exclusive rights in accordance with regulation 32(2)(b) of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The site is made up of various parcels of land including land owned by both the Council and Ion, and the individual land parcels are intrinsically linked. Of particular note, as part of the regeneration of the site there is a requirement to demolish a flyover which straddles land that is owned by the Council and land that is owned by Ion. Given the proximity of the various land parcels, coupled with the requirement for demolition works to be provided to the flyover on land controlled by Ion, the Council considers that Ion is the only developer able to deliver the regeneration works on the basis of Ion's existing exclusive rights over key areas of land within the overall regeneration site. In light of the above, and on the basis that key parts of the land that form the overall development site are owned (or optioned) by Ion, the Council has concluded there are no reasonable alternative or substitute developers who would be able to develop the site (given that much of the site is already owned by Ion) and for the reasons set out in this VTN, Ion is the only economic operator capable of providing the works on the basis of Ion's exclusive rights over parts of the site, including key parts of the site that are connected by the existing flyover.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: Yes
Section five. Award of contract
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
20 January 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
Number of tenders received: 1
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor
Ion Property Developments Limited
Liverpool
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKD72 - Liverpool
Companies House
03498080
The contractor is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot (excluding VAT)
Initial estimated total value of the contract/lot: £575,000,000
Total value of the contract/lot: £575,000,000
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
High Court of England and Wales
London
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.2) Body responsible for mediation procedures
High Court of England and Wales
London
Country
United Kingdom
six.4.3) Review procedure
Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures
Wirral Borough Council will observe a standstill period following the publication of this Contract Award Notice (CAN) of a minimum of 10 calendar days prior to entering into the Contract.
six.4.4) Service from which information about the review procedure may be obtained
Cabinet Office
London
Country
United Kingdom