Agenda item - Levelling Up Fund Update - Purchase of Windsor Street Site and Former Market Hall Site

Agenda item

Levelling Up Fund Update - Purchase of Windsor Street Site and Former Market Hall Site

Minutes:

The Board received an operational update with respect to progress in the delivery of the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) projects (LUF0297) in Bromsgrove Town Centre. The update covered the period September 2022 – January 2023 for the two projects taking place at Windsor Street and the former Market Hall site.

 

The Board was first updated on the Windsor Street Site (former Fire Station at Windsor Street). The Programme Delivery Manager for the projects reported that in October 2022 a positive response was received from the Environment Agency (EA) to the proposed remediation strategy. The EA provided approval in terms of the approach and remedial target values proposed for the soil and groundwater and gave a green light to proceed with the preparation of a remediation specification and monitoring plan.

 

It was reported that the draft remediation specification and monitoring plan had been completed and would be reviewed by both the Council and North Worcestershire Economic Development and Regeneration (NWedR) before it was submitted to the EA.

 

With regards to procurement of a suitable remediation contractor for the site, it was reported that the duration of soft market testing was extended following agreement from the Programme Board as two of the procurement frameworks approached, the Crown Commercial Services (CCS) and the Procure Partnership Frameworks, were deemed unsuitable due to concerns regarding the risk that there would be an inadequate number of returns following the tendering process.

 

The decision was thus taken to issue an expression of interest (EOI) to the Pagabo framework with a request that a reserve list of suppliers be made available to increase the overall pool of contractors. The project team was awaiting a response regarding this. It was explained that the tender process had been paused for the moment and would be extended by two weeks to enable contractors to have sufficient time to submit their EOIs. It was highlighted that this did not impact on the project timescales and it was expected that the contractor would be appointed in February 2023 and planning permission for the site secured in April 2023.

 

It was clarified that the project would proceed with two procurement frameworks going forward, the Pagabo framework and the Consortium Procurement Construction (CPC) framework.

 

The Board was then updated on the Former Market Hall project and Members were informed that following procurement in November 2023, One Creative Ltd were successful at the tender stage and would be appointed as the project’s technical adviser and cost consultant.

 

The RIBA stage two closed in December 2022 with the brief for the design team including proposals for the Main Building to be a mix of open plan office spaces and adaptable workspaces with food and beverage provided on the ground floor and proposals for the Pavilion Building to provide a two-storey pavilion-style building with a covered area to perform as a market square and the ground floor to be adaptable to hosting a range of community events and festivals.

 

It was noted that following the next stages of RIBA and the assessment of the design team and the technical advisor, the specific designs and costs for the project might need to be revised. However, it was highlighted that there would be an extensive period of consultation with Elected Members before a planning application for the site was submitted.

 

Following the operational update, the Board received an update in respect of the financial implications of the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) projects at Windsor Street (Former Fire Station) and Former Market Hall sites.

 

[The meeting was adjourned between 7.41 pm and 7.48pm]

 

(During the consideration of this item, Members discussed matters that necessitated the disclosure of exempt information. It was therefore agreed to move to exclude the press and public prior to any debate on the grounds that information would be revealed which related to the financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)).

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