Scope
Description
Appointment of Preliminary Developer Partner - Mayes Yard
Bedford Borough Council wish to appoint a development partner to enter into a development agreement for the redevelopment of Mayes Yard as part of the contracting authority's overall regeneration plans for Bedford Town Centre.
The appointed developer will proceed with getting the development through planning permission and beyond.
Full construction budget is expected to be £120,000,000.00+
Total value (estimated)
- £120,000,000 including VAT
Above the relevant threshold
Contract dates (estimated)
- 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2034
- 8 years
Main procurement category
Works
CPV classifications
- 45000000 - Construction work
Contract locations
- UKH24 - Bedford
Engagement
Engagement deadline
22 May 2025
The engagement was carried out before this notice was published.
Engagement process description
Between March and May 2025 the contracting authority's advisors undertook a market engagement exercise. They engaged with suppliers to establish the level of interest in the development site and the key parameters for undertaking a procurement.
The exercise was also utilised to understand whether any elements of the proposed scheme / the contracting authority's emerging thinking raised any factors bearing on the procurement or commercial terms being developed by the contracting authority within the market.
To enable market engagement, a written presentation was developed and given to a number of suppliers being primarily those developers that carry out town centre or other developments with or for public bodies.
The presentation gave details of the opportunity, including a review of the contracting authority's objectives for the development, excerpts from a massing study commissioned by the contracting authority and details of the proposed procurement route and contracting method.
The presentation was used to facilitate meetings with potential suppliers. The meetings took place both virtually over MS Teams, and in-person at the contracting authority's commercial advisors office in London.
Themes discussed during the presentations included:
• Initial observations about the proposed development.
• The size and nature of the development and any proposed uses.
• The contracting authority's thinking on the Central Library, Corn Exchange and Harpur Suite.
• Matters in respect of the development 'red line' boundary, land assembly and land ownerships at the development site.
• Viability and funding factors.
• The procurement approach including consideration of framework appointments.
The market engagement further included suppliers attending engagement sessions with the contracting authority during UKREiiF in May 2025.
During the engagement sessions the following were among matters covered:
• All interested suppliers engaged with were supportive of the proposed contractual approach (i.e. entry into a Development Agreement with the contracting authority).
• Some suppliers advocated the use of a framework in but were willing to take part in a Competitive Flexible Procedure procurement .
• All interested suppliers confirmed a preference for a procurement process that primarily focussed on the partnership between the contracting authority and developer.
• Some suppliers sought flexibility in the financial standing test to be used for selecting tenderers.
• Suppliers sought as much clarity as possible over the roles and funding in respect of the Central Library relocation, Corn Exchange and Harpur Suite.
The responses and feedback received (including from meetings held) have informed the contracting authority's requirements, procurement approach, conditions for participation and award criteria, likely suppliers who may be able to supply the services and works, and the intended commercial terms.
The engagement also helped the contracting authority to establish marked knowledge of, and interest in, the opportunity.
Steps were taken and will continue to ensure that the suppliers involved in this market engagement are not put at an unfair advantage in any competition in relation to a contract award to be carried out. It is the contracting authority's intention to publish a tender notice in mid / late June 2025.
It should be noted that the 'total value (estimated)' stated in this notice is an expression of the estimated gross development value of the development which could be delivered through the opportunity.
Submission
Publication date of tender notice (estimated)
16 June 2025
Contracting authority
Bedford Borough Council
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PLCV-4616-VTHL
Borough Hall, Cauldwell Street
Bedford
MK42 9AP
United Kingdom
Region: UKH24 - Bedford
Organisation type: Public authority - sub-central government
Other organisation
These organisations are carrying out the procurement, or part of it, on behalf of the contracting authorities.
CBRE LIMITED
Summary of their role in this procurement: Procurement Leads
- Companies House: 03536032
- Public Procurement Organisation Number: PHHJ-5567-CWPY
Henrietta House
London
W1G 0NB
United Kingdom
Email: government.advisory@cbre.com
Website: http://www.cbre.co.uk
Region: UKI32 - Westminster