The partnership approach, a first for the council, will see a single contractor design and build 71 units across three sites, with a total build value for this phase of nearly £10m.
Development opportunities at the Garnets in Beeston, the Broadleas in Bramley and former Whinmoor pub site in Swarcliffe have been parcelled together to present a more attractive proposition, allowing them to be delivered through a single procurement exercise but let as distinct contracts to the successful bidder. The contract will be let through the YORBuild framework.
As well as financial and resource savings for the council, procuring in this way will allow early contractor involvement with the eventual partner to be innovative, the council hopes.
Initial plans for the Garnets and Broadleas have been drawn up so the successful candidate will be able to influence the final designs and details, but the Whinmoor pub site remains a blank canvas.
The Garnets in Beeston will comprise 25 homes, the Broadleas in Bramley will have 24 homes and 22 properties are expected on the Whinmoor site. The construction value is £3.5m, £3.4m and £3m respectively.
The council intends to build 1,000 new council homes over the next three years.
“Forming a long-term partnership will allow us to work alongside a contractor who will be able to get to heart of our ambition to create council homes that will leave a positive legacy,” said Councillor Richard Lewis, executive member for regeneration, transport and planning. “Bringing someone on board at an early stage when designs are yet to be finalised means together we can deliver even higher standards of quality design, space, flexibility and energy efficiency.
“The partnership will also offer the successful bidder certainty and security across the supply chain and allow us to create more opportunities for skills, training and apprenticeships.”
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