Section one: Contracting authority/entity
one.1) Name and addresses
GUINNESS DEVELOPMENTS LIMITED
7th Floor 350 Euston Road
London
NW13AX
Country
United Kingdom
Region code
UKI31 - Camden and City of London
Mutuals Public Register
IP031693
Internet address(es)
Main address
one.4) Type of the contracting authority
Body governed by public law
one.5) Main activity
Housing and community amenities
Section two: Object
two.1) Scope of the procurement
two.1.1) Title
Construction Package Deal at Station Road, Oakley, MK47 7RB
two.1.2) Main CPV code
- 45210000 - Building construction work
two.1.3) Type of contract
Works
two.1.4) Short description
Traditional land and build "package deal" for the construction of 40 affordable homes on land off Station Road, Oakley, Bedford.
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: £8,921,125
two.2) Description
two.2.3) Place of performance
NUTS codes
- UKH24 - Bedford
two.2.4) Description of the procurement
Guinness Developments Limited ("GDL") intends to enter into an agreement for the purchase of land and an associated build contract with housing developer Snowdon Homes Ltd. This is a traditional land and build "package deal" brought to GDL by land agent MTP Developments Limited, for the construction of new homes by Snowdon Homes Ltd.
The scheme will result in the construction of 40 affordable homes on land off Station Road, Oakley, Bedford. It will comprise circa 19 rented and 21 shared ownership properties.
MTP Developments have arranged to purchase the site from a private vendor and the site benefits from outline planning permission. The package deal will be comprised of GDL simultaneously purchasing the land from MTP Developments (an exempt transaction under the Public Contract Regulations 2015), and entering into a JCT Design & Build contract for the construction of the new homes on the land with Snowdon Homes Ltd (which is the subject of this notice). The award of contract to Snowdon is a condition of the deal, and is required by MTP Developments in order for it to proceed.
The contracting authority for the purposes of the Procurement Regulations will be GDL. GDL is a subsidiary of The Guinness Partnership Ltd. (TGPL) but is a contracting authority in its own right. Ownership of the properties will be transferred from GDL to TGPL upon practical completion.
Interested parties should note that the transaction for the purchase of land will be directly between MTP Developments and GDL. As this is an exempt transaction under PCR2015, no additional details have been provided in respect of the land transaction. The sum of £8,921,125 (ex VAT) above represents the expected total value of the construction contract with Snowdon Homes. The total expected package cost including land is expected to be £12,521,000, exclusive of any VAT payable.
Note:- Scoping and initial negotiations on this package deal commenced in October 2024 and were substantially underway prior to the implementation of the Procurement Act 2023. Guinness' view is therefore that this award is covered by the transition provisions built into PA23, and therefore that this contract award is subject to PCR2015 rather than PA23.
two.2.11) Information about options
Options: Yes
Description of options
The contract may be extended as required, if necessary to facilitate the successful completion of the construction scheme.
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 procurement falls outside the scope of application of the regulations
Explanation:
Guinness Developments Limited ("GDL") considers that in this case the use of the negotiated procedure without prior publication is justified on the basis of:
Regulation 32(b)(ii) of the Public Contract Regulations 2015 - single supplier - technical reasons
The direct award without prior publication justification applies because: (a) the Supplier is prepared to sell the land only as part of arrangements that also include the construction of the new homes by Snowdon Homes Ltd. (b) GDL and the Bedford Borough Council have significant unmet need in the locality of the development, evidenced through long housing waiting lists. (c) There is no other land on the market which is available for social housing development within reasonable timeframes local to the unmet need for development.
four.1.8) Information about the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)
The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: No
Section five. Award of contract/concession
A contract/lot is awarded: Yes
five.2) Award of contract/concession
five.2.1) Date of conclusion of the contract
3 July 2025
five.2.2) Information about tenders
The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: No
five.2.3) Name and address of the contractor/concessionaire
Snowdon Homes Ltd
Artemis House, 4a Bramley Road, Mount Farm
Milton Keynes
MK1 1PT
Country
United Kingdom
NUTS code
- UKJ12 - Milton Keynes
Companies House
08983239
The contractor/concessionaire is an SME
Yes
five.2.4) Information on value of contract/lot/concession (excluding VAT)
Total value of the contract/lot/concession: £8,921,125
Section six. Complementary information
six.4) Procedures for review
six.4.1) Review body
The Guinness Partnership Ltd.
London
NW1 3AX
Country
United Kingdom