Church Street Regeneration Site A: Market Engagement

Tender description

Church Street is Westminster City Council’s flagship regeneration project. The Council has ambitious plans and is committed to significant investment to regenerate Church Street sustainably and build on the distinctive character of the place and its people. The Council’s objectives for the project are set out in the “City for All” Masterplan Framework and Housing Renewal Strategy. The scheme is split into three parcels, Sites A, B & C together with the Church Street market. The Council has prepared designs ready for a planning application to be submitted later this year (2021). This Prior information Notice follows on from previous soft market engagement activity invited via a PIN dated 01.05.2020. The Council is now in position to confirm the timetable and process for procurement, which will commence this Autumn. The Council will deliver Site A through a joint venture structure (with the Council counterparty being either itself and/or the Council owned development company Westminster Housing Developments Limited) and thus seeks a delivery partner. Since the previous market engagement the Council has made considerable progress with this project. The Council will share key progress updates and demonstrate it’s commitment to delivery by presenting the scheme design, the outcomes of further community consultation, planning details and the proposed Pascal, as well as the intended procurement route to ensure alignment of the Council’s vision with the expertise of delivery enablers and the Private Sector. Please contact sladva1@westminster.gov.uk to Express Interest and register for our launch session. It is the intention of the Council to host the launch on 20th July 2021 at our City Hall offices in London Victoria (Subject to COVID-19 rules). If a face to face launch is not possible, the event shall be hosted, virtually. There will also be an opportunity for 1:2:1 Engagement sessions to be held shortly thereafter. Further information regarding the Church Street Masterplan can be found at https://churchstreet.org/ Lot 1: Current development proposals include: Redevelopment of site A will deliver circa 429 homes including - Social rent re-provision – circa 98 homes - Leaseholder re-provision – circa 16 homes - Market Sale – circa 215 homes - Additional Social rent – circa 46 homes - Additional Intermediate rent – circa 70homes Circa 700 sqm of flexible retail space along Church Street. Library space on Church Street with access to external courtyard space. Landscaped courtyard gardens for the residents. Four new drop off / delivery bays, circa 30 storage units for market traders and welfare facilities for traders. Variation in building heights is proposed with between 8 – 14 storeys across Site A. The Council will deliver a development that is compliant with adopted planning policy. The Council has progressed the design to RIBA Stage 2 and has received extensive preapplication advice from the planning authority and the Greater London Authority. Design of the scheme has not concluded and is on-going. In addition to progressing planning matters the Council is making excellent progress in preparing Site A for development including: Extensive community engagement particularly with Site A residents on key matters such as layout of the homes, public realm and open space, and maintaining the community feel has been undertaken in 2019. Discussions with community leaders including the Neighbourhood Forum and local ward Councillor’s have informed the development of the Stage 2 proposals. Consideration of funding requirements and financial implications on the Council (Housing Revenue Account and General Fund) and its associated body Westminster Housing Investment Limited (WHIL). A detailed housing needs assessment of all tenants in Site A has been carried out and reflected in the design. Preparation and relocation of tenants is underway including permanent and temporary moves to new and existing properties in the local area including Lyons Place and West End Gate by way of example. Around 50% of the existing residents have moved off site already. Negotiations with residential and commercial leaseholders, to acquire their interests through private treaty, are progressing at pace with the aim to achieving vacant possession by mid 2022 The procurement process for Site A provides a tremendous opportunity to partner with an authority with ambitious regeneration plans. The Council is currently working up a full business case including considering delivery options/structures but is likely to include a sole purpose LLP vehicle jointly owned by either the Council and/or a Council subsidiary company and a development partner who will assist in some or all of the design/planning, funding, construction and sales/letting of the development.