Official UK procurement notice
Chelmer Waterside Residential Development Scheme in Chelmsford
Authority: Chelmsford City Council (Local council)
What is being bought
Published requirement descriptionChelmsford City Council ("the Council") is seeking to award a development opportunity to invest in and deliver a residential-led mixed use scheme integrating new homes, ancillary leisure & commercial spaces, community facilities with vibrant public realm spaces taking full advantage of the water frontage.
The site known as Chelmer Waterside comprises approximately 6.33 hectares (15.63 acres) and is formed on three land parcels at a prominent city centre location.
The site is estimated to be capable of accommodating a development in the region of 770 to 1,000 new homes and the development outputs are expected to be delivered in phases.
The Council requires that 35% of the total number of houses delivered across the site to be affordable homes.
The Council may require the developer to offer rights of first refusal (or similar options) to acquire the affordable housing to CHP as the Council's nominated housing association purchaser.
The scheme will also involve demolition works, land decontamination remediation works at a former gasworks site, delivering a car parking solution, promoting and selling developed assets as well as securing the implementation of an estate management strategy agreed with the Council.
The developer will be required to deliver a comprehensive skills and training programme as part of the Council's social value requirements for this project.
The estimated development value of the scheme is between £200 to £250 million. However, potential returns will depend on many commercial factors including (but not limited to) the performance of the developer and market conditions. Bidders should seek independent legal and commercial advice in relation to the development potential of the site and the potential value of the opportunity.
This tender notice is for the award of a public contract through a competitive flexible procedure in accordance with section 20(1) and (2)(b) of the Procurement Act 2023.
The development agreement is a concession contract with the delivery of works as its primary subject matter. The range of other works and services that will or may be required are indicated by the CPV codes below.
The competitive flexible procedure may include negotiation at any stage.
The Council reserves the right to rely on Section 24 of the Procurement Act 2023 to refine award criteria.
The Council intends to shortlist up to 3 suppliers with the highest scoring Procurement Specific Questionnaire ("PSQ") responses to participate in the tender stages of the competitive flexible procedure. The 3 shortlisted suppliers will be invited participate in the dialogue and negotiation phase and then submit final tenders. The supplier with the most advantageous tender will be invited to participate in the preferred bidder stage to confirm commitments in its tender.
The Council will use an online portal at www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/4FX69D524H ↗ ("the Portal") to make associated tender documents available to suppliers.
Suppliers requesting to participate in this procurement competition are also required to submit their completed PSQs through the Portal.
The following associated tender documents are being provided with the publication of this tender notice to provide further information about the procurement and are available on the Portal:
Tender Notice
-Procurement Specific Questionnaire ("PSQ")
-Invitation to Submit Draft Solutions ("ISDS")
-Memorandum of Information ("MOI")
-Heads of Terms ("HoTs")
-Financial Model
-Redline Plan
The following associated tender documents will be made available later through the Portal to bidders shortlisted to participate in the tender stages of this competitive flexible procedure:
-Information regarding CHP
-Development Agreement Terms
-Funding arrangements with Homes England
-Invitation to Submit Final Tenders ("ISFT")
-Selected reports and information relating to the site will also be made available later through the Portal to bidders shortlisted to participate in the tender stages of this competitive flexible procedure.
To view this notice, please click here:
- How the procedure runs: The Council intends to shortlist up to 3 suppliers with the highest scoring Procurement Specific Questionnaire ("PSQ") responses to participate in the tender stages of the competitive flexible procedure. The 3 shortlisted suppliers will be invited participate in the dialogue and negotiation phase and then submit final tenders. The supplier with the most advantageous tender will be invited to participate in the preferred bidder stage to confirm commitments in its tender.
CPV: Architectural and related services · Building consultancy services · Building surveying services · Chargers · Construction work · Construction-related services · Development consultancy services · Electricity distribution and related services · Energy-efficiency consultancy services · Environmental engineering consultancy services · Gasworks site investigation · Installation services of electrical equipment · +7 more
The lotProcurement structure
single lot · value publishedLot #1Published value£250,000,000
- Economic & financial standing
Please see the Procurement Specific Questionnaire ("PSQ") for details of the conditions of participation.
The PSQ is available to download through the Portal.
Suppliers wishing to apply to participate in the competitive flexible procedure must submit a completed PSQ through the Portal by 12 noon on 3rd October 2025
- Technical & professional ability
Please see the Procurement Specific Questionnaire ("PSQ") for details of the conditions of participation.
The PSQ is available to download through the Portal.
Suppliers wishing to apply to participate in the competitive flexible procedure must submit a completed PSQ through the Portal by 12 noon on 3rd October 2025
What it takes to wini
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Evaluation split and conditions of participation as published; the tender pack may add morei
How this buyer will score bids.
The evaluation criteria and weights exactly as published on the notice, grouped by family (price, quality, social value and so on).
Published sub-criteria (13)
- High Level Scheme Concept: 12.5%
- Achieving Successful Placemaking: 10%
- Integrating Proposed Uses: 7.5%
- Planning Approach: 5%
- Delivery Plan and Programme: 5%
- Project Management: 5%
- Public and Stakeholder Engagement: 5%
- Legal: 10%
- Total Financial Offer: 12.5%
- Assumptions and Evidence Provided: 12.5%
- Funding Proposal: 5%
- Overage Proposal: 5%
- Social Value: 5%
Published award criteria (13)
- High Level Scheme Concept
- Achieving Successful Placemaking
- Integrating Proposed Uses
- Planning Approach
- Delivery Plan and Programme
- Project Management
- Social Value
- Public and Stakeholder Engagement
- Total Financial Offer
- Assumptions and Evidence Provided
- Funding Proposal
- Overage Proposal
- Legal
- Economic & financial standing
Please see the Procurement Specific Questionnaire ("PSQ") for details of the conditions of participation.
The PSQ is available to download through the Portal.
Suppliers wishing to apply to participate in the competitive flexible procedure must submit a completed PSQ through the Portal by 12 noon on 3rd October 2025
- Technical & professional ability
Please see the Procurement Specific Questionnaire ("PSQ") for details of the conditions of participation.
The PSQ is available to download through the Portal.
Suppliers wishing to apply to participate in the competitive flexible procedure must submit a completed PSQ through the Portal by 12 noon on 3rd October 2025
- Price carries 35 of 100 points: a 10% discount moves about 3.5 points. The method statement decides this lot, not the discount.
Price arithmetic assumes straight proportional scoring; the tender pack may use another formula.
Procedure terms & legal framework
From the official record- Procedure method
- Competitive flexible procedure
- Legal basis
- UKPGA · 2023/54 Procurement Act 2023
- Procurement category
- Works
- Notice status
- Closed
- Procurement threshold
- Above threshold (FTS publication)
- Regulatory regime
- Concession
- Commercial structure
- Stand-alone contract (no framework)
- Competition type
- Competitive procedure
- GPA / WTO covered
- Yes (GPA, CPTPP)
- Recurring procurement
- Unspecified in notice
- First published
- 9 Apr 2025, 16:05 BST
- Last source update
- 23 Sept 2025, 16:00 BST
- Award evaluation window
- Submission end – 2 Feb 2026
- Authority reference
CCC/2025/WATERSIDE- FTS notice number
2025/S 000-050668- Latest notice
- Tender notice (UK4)
- Classification (CPV)
- Delivery area
- Official registry OCID
ocds-h6vhtk-04fff6Find a Tender- Contract terms summary
Payment terms (UK4_137): In addition to payments being made within 30 days for valid, undisputed invoices that are not for concession contracts, utilities contracts awarded by private utilities, or contracts awarded by schools. You may also describe the processes for submitting invoices and dealing with disputed invoices:
- How it runs
The Council intends to shortlist up to 3 suppliers with the highest scoring Procurement Specific Questionnaire ("PSQ") responses to participate in the tender stages of the competitive flexible procedure. The 3 shortlisted suppliers will be invited participate in the dialogue and negotiation phase and then submit final tenders. The supplier with the most advantageous tender will be invited to participate in the preferred bidder stage to confirm commitments in its tender.
- Risks
The Council considers that the following are known risks which, if they were to materialise, could prevent the satisfactory performance of the development agreement for the Council and require a subsequent modification to the public contract under paragraph 5 of Schedule 8 to the Procurement Act 2023.
The known risk of hazardous substances, structural issues and ground conditions being discovered at the site could increase costs or lead to a delay in the programme that could potentially require a variation or addition to the works and/or services to satisfactorily perform the development agreement. The severity and impact of such factors may not be known until after the commencement of the development agreement, the completion of surveys or the works are underway.
Chelmsford City Council is subject to the English Devolution White Paper which will lead to local government re-organisation potentially during the term of this contract. This has now moved on to proposals in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. This risk is defined as a known unknown risk as we do not yet understand the implications of that potential re-organisation.
How it was run
Official notice- Requests to participate (first stage)
- 26 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline
- 3 Oct 2025, 12:00 BST
- Clarification deadline
- 12 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission channel
- Official e-sourcing portal
- Electronic submission
- Allowed
- Accepted languages
- en
Timeline
9 Apr 2025 → 9 Feb 2026 · 9 dates- Planning notice published9 Apr 2025, 16:05 BST
- Market engagement23 Apr 2025, 23:59 BST
1:1 preliminary market engagement sessions will be held from 14th April 2025 by the Council in partnership with Lambert Smith Hampton. These sessions are open to suppliers who have acquired and constructed over 200 units on a single site within the last five years-either individually or as part of a consortium-and who are interested in learning more about this opportunity at this stage. The Council reserves the right not to invite suppliers who do not meet this requirement to a 1:1 session.
1:1 sessions will be held via MS Teams (link to be provided) and will include a presentation from LSH covering the detail of the scheme and be an opportunity for suppliers to engage and respond to the Developer Engagement questions set out in the Chelmer Waterside Information Pack Pack [(available to access and download here: www.delta-esourcing.com/respond/3B48AQJ9MQ ↗)] The presentation and questioning will take approximately 45 minutes. Attendees will be able to share feedback during their allocated 1:1 session or provide written responses via email to the following address: asorayapour@lsh.co.uk nparlett@lsh.co.uk wcollomosse@lsh.co.uk with responses required by April 23rd 2025.
To register your interest in arranging a 1:1 session, please contact William Collomosse at wcollomossee@lsh.co.uk (copying in asorayapour@lsh.co.uk). The Council intends to accommodate a maximum of 15 1:1 sessions with interested suppliers, with slots allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
There is opportunity for an in-person meeting at LSH office (55 Wells Street, London, W1T 3PT) instead of MS Teams. If this is preferred, please make this clear when contacting William Collomosse.
Suppliers which the Council cannot accommodate in a 1:1 session are welcome in any event to respond to the Developer Engagement questions set out in the Chelmer Waterside Information Pack. Responses are required in writing via email to the following addresses by April 16th 2025: asorayapour@lsh.co.uk, nparlett@lsh.co.uk and wcollomosse@lsh.co.uk.
The estimated Gross Development Value (GDV) of the contract is approximately £300,000,000 (Three Hundred Million).
Subject to final confirmation, the tender notice publication will be issued during May 2025
All contact should be made through the email addresses provided above and not through the Delta eSourcing portal. The Delta eSourcing portal has been setup to provide the information pack only. Any contact/information received or uploaded through the portal may not be responded too. If required, please use Delta access code: 3B48AQJ9MQ
- Tender notice published21 Aug 2025, 19:05 BST
- Clarification questions by12 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
- Latest notice published399 days ago23 Sept 2025, 16:00 BST
- Expressions of interest by396 days ago26 Sept 2025, 12:00 BST
- Submission deadline389 days ago3 Oct 2025, 12:00 BST
- Award decision expected by267 days ago2 Feb 2026, 23:59 GMT
- Contract starts261 days ago9 Feb 2026
Notice history
8 events · 4 releases on Find a Tender · since 9 Apr 2025- Preliminary market engagement notice published9 Apr 2025, 16:05 BSTUK2
- Preliminary market engagement notice published9 Apr 2025, 17:16 BSTUK2
- Tender notice published21 Aug 2025, 19:05 BSTUK4
- Published value published: £250,000,00021 Aug 2025, 19:05 BST
- Status changed to active21 Aug 2025, 19:05 BST
- Procurement method changed21 Aug 2025, 19:05 BST
- Tender notice published23 Sept 2025, 16:00 BSTUK4
- Deadline published: 3 Oct 2025, 12:00 BST23 Sept 2025, 16:00 BST
Published amendments (2)
Incorrect engagement deadline. Edited to: 23rd April 2025
The deadline of this tender opportunity has been extended to the 3rd October 2025 at 12 noon. The notice has been updated to reflect this.
Routine re-releases (4)
- 2025-04: 1 release · 9 Apr 2025
Contracting authority & participating public bodies
Official documents & specifications (4)
Official links; attachments are not copiedNotices published for this procedure
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Tender notice Tender notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender
- Preliminary market engagement notice Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender