SADC - Early Market Engagement for the redevelopment of Telford Court, St Albans to a Registered Provider - 2301100

Tender description

St Albans City and District Council (SADC) is carrying out PPME in relation to engage with Registered Providers of Social Housing (RP's) to explore options for the redevelopment of the Telford Court housing site by either:1. disposal of the site to a Registered Provider (RP); or2. entering into a joint venture between the Council and a Registered Provider.The Council would like to discuss how this site could be redeveloped to re-provide as much affordable housing (including housing at social rent levels) as possible. The Council is therefore carrying out a soft market testing to engage in early informal dialogue with potential providers, prior to any formal procurement process being initiated. The Council is particularly looking to explore what the RP market can offer and to discuss and review any proposed solutions or ideas for the future of this site. Lot 1: St Albans City and District Council would like to engage with Registered Providers of Social Housing (RP’s) to explore options for the redevelopment of the Telford Court housing site by either:(a) disposal of the site to a Registered Provider (RP); or (b) entering into a joint venture between the Council and a Registered Provider. Telford Court is a housing site consisting of 81 homes and is the city’s only high-rise residential block (11 storey) as well as neighbouring maisonettes and some garages. Built over 50 years ago, Council staff and Councillors have concluded that the age and structure of the 1960s building means the changes needed to bring the building in line with new safety regulations are impossible. As such it has reached the end of its purposeful life. The Council would like to discuss how this site could be redeveloped to re-provide as much affordable housing (including housing at social rent levels) as possible. The expectation is to maximise the number of new social rented homes and to create an appropriate tenure mix to achieve this. The Council is therefore carrying out a soft market testing to engage in early informal dialogue with potential providers, prior to any formal procurement process being initiated. The Council is particularly looking to explore what the RP market can offer and to discuss and review any proposed solutions or ideas for the future of this site. There may be a requirement for the Registered Provider to take ownership of and fully manage and fund the demolition of the existing buildings on the site, as part of the redevelopment of the Telford Court site. This is something that the Council would like to discuss with Registered Providers as part of the soft market testing process. Through the soft market testing exercise, the Council would like to determine the most feasible of the two options a) - disposal of the site for housing redevelopment or b) – enter into a joint venture to redevelop the site.As there is no readily available solution for the redevelopment of the site, the Council will be looking to discuss and explore what the new housing scheme could look like, in regard to - the tenure mix, number of new homes, design etc. The Council is looking to work with a Registered Provider that will help determine the best future use of the site, as well as deliver the redevelopment (demolition, design and build).The Council will consider any feedback received to help inform the Council’s options and further decision-making. For the avoidance of doubt, this stage of the project is not part of a formal procurement process, and the Council is not committing, at this stage, to carrying out this process.Participation or None Participation in the PIN shall not prevent any provider participating in the potential future procurement, nor is it intended that any information supplied as part of the PIN shall place any provider at an advantage in the potential procurement process.Participation in the PIN will be at the RP’s own cost. No expense in responding to this PIN will be reimbursed by the Council.