Construction consultancy services

Tender description

Tenders are invited by the Council of the Borough of Kirklees from Consultants with relevant experience to demonstrate the ability and sufficient capacity to support the Council in delivering a Pilot Low Carbon Housing Programme on land in its ownership. In response to the Climate Emergency which was declared by the Council in January 2019 and the resulting ‘net zero’ emissions target for 2038, the Council is looking to reduce to zero carbon emissions associated with new homes built on Council owned land and to influence/raise standards across the housing sector in the district. The Council’s ultimate ambition is to maximise the housing built on Council owned land being constructed to a Certified Passivhaus standard. This commission relates to the appointment of suitably qualified and experienced consultants to assist the Council in formulating and developing a pilot low carbon affordable housing programme on land in its ownership. The Council intends to develop a pilot Low Carbon affordable housing programme on land in its ownership. The programme is expected to deliver up to 100 low carbon homes on a site or sites that have yet to be identified, a minimum of which 20 will be constructed to a certified Passivhaus standard (the Council has a clear ambition to maximise the number of certified Passivhaus homes constructed as part of the programme, subject to viability). It is intended that the remaining homes will maximise Modern Methods of Construction to achieve a 31 % reduction in carbon emissions compared to the current Building Regulations. The homes will be commissioned, retained and managed by the Council as rented properties. It is the Council’s ambition for all the homes to be completed by March 2023. The Council is looking to appoint consultants who will advise the Council on developing the programme referred to above. The project will move at a quick pace, so the Council requires a consultant with the relevant skills, direct experience and knowledge of scoping, designing and delivering a medium to large-scale Passivhaus/low carbon scheme or schemes. The Council have identified a number of potential sites that could be included in the proposed programme. Consultants will be expected to assist the Council’s Housing and Growth programme delivery team in several key stages, comprising of, although not limited to: • working with the Council to identify the most suitable and viable site/s to be developed; • designing schemes to deliver up to 100 homes in total and submit detailed planning applications; • preparing detailed specifications and draft tenders for the construction of the approved schemes in consultation with the Council; • working with the Council’s legal team to prepare contract documentation and advise on the appointment of a contractor/s to construct the schemes; • overseeing and monitoring the construction of the developments to ensure compliance with the detailed specifications and relevant accreditation requirements, reporting to the Council as client; • securing all appropriate accreditations (NHBC, Passivhaus Trust, etc.) for completed dwellings to ensure they are insurable/mortgageable; • advising the Council on the optimal mix of tenures to maximise the benefits of the scheme; • working with the Council to devise a training programme for the tenants/occupiers to ensure that the integrity of the Passivhaus homes is maintained and that the energy saving benefits of the whole scheme are maximised. This will include preparing information packs. The programme will also make available at least five plots on a site for custom and self builders to acquire and construct their own home to Passivhaus accredited standards and will incorporate a 70-bed specialist extra care accommodation built to low carbon certification. The Council will work with the appointed consultants to commission detailed site investigations for the identified sites, prior to the detailed design stage. The stages are as follows: Stage 1: Site evaluation and option appraisals; Stage 2: Detailed design and submission of planning applications; Stage 3: Tenders for the approved scheme; Stage 4: Contract supervision/compliance; Stage 5: Post delivery support and monitoring.