Basildon Hospital main entrance and retail facility

Tender description

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust ("MSE") intends to enter into a series of leasing arrangements with Noviniti Dev Co 8 Ltd ("Noviniti") and WHSmith ("WHS") in respect of a retail development ("the Development") at Basildon Hospital, Essex ("the Hospital") with WHS as Noviniti's initial tenant and retail operator. MSE has structured the contractual arrangement as a land transaction exempt from the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR) and the Concession Contracts Regulations 2015 (CCR). Noviniti has an option to draw down a 35-year ground lease ("GL") of the site in exercise of an option agreement ("OA") with MSE. The GL has break clauses in favour of MSE after 2 years (so MSE can recover the site if the Development is not commenced) and 30 years from practical completion of the Development. Lot 1: MSE now intends to enter into a tripartite Agreement for Underlease with Noviniti and WHS. In this agreement WHS commits to accepting the grant of a 15-year underlease (with rent obligations to Noviniti) on practical completion of the retail facilities. MSE (as head landlord) will have insurance obligations owed to WHS and a repairing covenant for the retail facilities. MSE may step-in to take the underlease if WHS fails to enter the underlease at practical completion. MSE may enter an Overriding Lease (to become WHS's landlord) if WHS becomes insolvent or defaults on its Underlease, in order to maintain the rental payments to Noviniti. MSE may enter a 15-year Reversionary Lease (with rent obligations to Noviniti) to take effect from the expiry of WHS's underlease. MSE may instead direct these leases be granted to an alternate operator if MSE guarantees rent. There will be some office space and common parts delivered as part of the scheme. Additional information: Please see Voluntary Transparency Notice of 22.3.2021 for details of option agreement and ground lease https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/005723-2021