Tender

HEAT NETWORK DEVELOPMENT PARTNER

PLYMOUTH CITY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Tender

15 Jul 2025 at 14:55

Planning

11 Mar 2025 at 15:46

Summary of the contracting process

Plymouth City Council is actively seeking a Development Partner to design, commercialise, and develop a heat network across Plymouth's South Coast and Derriford areas. The procurement is in the "tender" stage under a selective procurement method employing a competitive flexible procedure. Interested parties must express interest by 15 August 2025, with the enquiry period ending on 8 August 2025. The contracting period is set from 18 June 2026 to 17 June 2096, highlighting a lengthy engagement to ensure long-term sustainability and development. The industry focus is on district heating mains construction and energy-related services. The council aims to utilise a pivotal waste heat source while collaborating with institutions like the University of Plymouth and Devon & Cornwall Police, reflecting the project's significant scale and potential impact.

The tender opens substantial opportunities for businesses specialising in renewable energy, infrastructure development, and technical engineering. Companies with expertise in heat network development, particularly those with a focus on sustainability and long-term operation and maintenance, will find this tender particularly appealing. The procurement allows for the formation of a specialised vehicle with Plymouth City Council holding a "golden share", ensuring strategic alignment between the involved entities. The significant financial scope, with gross values offered up to £4.2 billion, presents a lucrative opportunity for entities capable of fulfilling stringent technical and commercial criteria. Businesses with innovation in energy solutions and those looking to expand into public sector energy projects would find this tender a strategic growth option, especially given the government's commitment to funding via the Green Heat Network Fund.

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Notice Title

HEAT NETWORK DEVELOPMENT PARTNER

Notice Description

Plymouth City Council (PCC) is seeking a Development Partner (DP) to develop and deliver a heat network(s) in the Plymouth's South Coast and Derriford areas. Initially, the Development Partner will be responsible for design and commercialisation of the proposed heat network, up to an approval gateway. The DP will be required to meet minimum mandatory requirements for the proposed heat network, set out in the Development Agreement. If approval is granted the delivery stage will commence. The DP will use a special purpose vehicle in which Plymouth City Council will hold a "golden share" PCC has undertaken commercialisation work in relation to an initial phase of a heat network in Plymouth's South Coast area, which identified a viable commercial scheme using a significant waste heat source (South West Water Central Plant). A number of public and private sector entities, such as the University of Plymouth, Arts University Plymouth, Devon & Cornwall Police, Plymouth City Council, National Marine Aquarium, Theatre Royal and Plymouth Community Homes are interested in being connected to the heat network to meet their Net Zero ambitions, other parties may be join the scheme in future. The Plymouth South Coast and Derriford areas have been identified through the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero's heat network zoning pilot, as being suitable for low-carbon heat networks. Exclusive rights to develop heat networks in these areas will be subject to the outcome of future Zoning Regulations. PCC would like to draw the attention of interested suppliers to the fact that all activities delivered after the development stage shall be subject to an evergreen Shareholders' Agreement. Therefore, the contract period dates and associated contract values below have been included for system purposes only based on the Council's best current estimate. Plymouth City Council have applied for government Green Heat Network Fund grant towards the new heat network costs, including commercialisation and construction costs. The remaining development and delivery funding will be provided by the appointed Development Partner.

Planning Information

The preliminary market engagement related to this project will take the form of a Bidders Day which will be held on 10th April 2025 in Commonwealth Suite, Crowne Plaza, Armada Way PLYMOUTH PL1 2HJ https://maps.app.goo.gl/uE5csanftaMC1zUi6 Main session: Suppliers interest in bidding for this opportunity should complete an online registration form following the link: https://forms.office.com/e/ksM9Aqzdt2 . Places are limited. Due to venue capacity, we are forced to restrict the number of representatives to 3 per organisation. Booking of places will be on first come first serve basis. Networking session: There will also be an opportunity for local suppliers to attend a networking lunch (from 12.30pm) to find out how they might become involved in the project. Suppliers wishing to join the networking session should register using the following link: https://forms.office.com/e/fmJ66qHeDs. Places are limited. Any queries regarding the Bidders Day should be emailed to the team on: heatnetwork@plymouth.gov.uk

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-04ebb1
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/040135-2025
Current Stage
Tender
All Stages
Planning, Tender

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK4 - Tender Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Selective
Procurement Method Details
Competitive flexible procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services


CPV Codes

45232140 - District-heating mains construction work

71314000 - Energy and related services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£3,500,000,000 £1B-£10B
Lots Value
£3,500,000,000 £1B-£10B
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
15 Jul 20257 months ago
Submission Deadline
8 Aug 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
12 May 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
17 Jun 2026 - 17 Jun 2096 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Active
Lots Status
Active
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
PLYMOUTH CITY COUNCIL
Additional Buyers

AMBERSIDE ADVISORS LTD

BURGES SALMON LLP

BURO HAPPOLD LIMITED

Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
bids@amberside.uk, procurement@plymouth.gov.uk, projectleads@burohappold.com, publicsectortenders@burges-salmon.com
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
PLYMOUTH
Postcode
PL1 3BJ
Post Town
Plymouth
Country
England

Major Region (ITL 1)
TLK South West (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLK5 West of England
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLK51 Bristol, City of
Delivery Location
TLK41 Plymouth

Local Authority
Bristol, City of
Electoral Ward
Lawrence Hill
Westminster Constituency
Bristol East

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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