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Lexden Gardens (former Essex County Hospital) Phase 3 Development

Essex County Council

This public procurement record has 8 releases in its history.

Award

13 Aug 2026 at 08:55

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

02 Mar 2026 at 12:25

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
TenderUpdate

30 Sep 2025 at 14:36

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

26 Aug 2025 at 10:22

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

30 Jul 2025 at 09:01

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
PlanningUpdate

30 Jul 2025 at 08:59

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

16 Apr 2025 at 15:42

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

16 Apr 2025 at 14:44

UK1 - Pipeline Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Essex County Council procured this construction project on behalf of Essex Housing LLP. The requirement was for a principal contractor to deliver Phase 3 of the Lexden Gardens housing development at the former Essex County Hospital site on Lexden Road, Colchester, Essex. Works cover the refurbishment, alteration and extension of three existing blocks, providing eight new homes comprising six flats and two houses. The project also includes 21 new-build townhouses, associated external works, drainage and services, and external façade works to the nurses’ block. The successful contractor is expected to work with Essex Housing LLP, Essex County Council and Potter Raper Ltd, the nominated Employer’s Agent and Principal Designer.

The procurement is complete and was run as a single-lot open procedure. The tender deadline was 19 November 2025 at 12 noon, following a clarification deadline of 29 October 2025; five bids were received and four reached the final stage. Evaluation weighted commercial price at 70%, technical quality at 25% and social value at 5%, with economic and technical selection criteria. The estimated gross value was £14,000,000. Gipping Construction Limited was awarded the contract on 27 February 2026 for £14,224,434 gross. The contract was signed on 13 August 2026 and is active, with a contract period from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2030 and a gross value of £14,646,847.02.

This requirement demonstrates demand from Essex County Council and Essex Housing LLP for a substantial principal contractor able to deliver mixed residential construction and complex refurbishment in a live development programme. Relevant competitors would need capability across alterations and extensions to existing buildings, new-build townhouse and housing delivery, external façades, drainage, utilities and wider external works. The project also requires effective coordination with the employer’s agent, principal designer, council and housing partner. Suppliers should be able to evidence the economic and technical capacity to manage a multi-element housing scheme, compete on commercial price while demonstrating strong technical quality, and provide credible social value. Performance arrangements include health and safety, social value and climate outcomes.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Lexden Gardens (former Essex County Hospital) Phase 3 Development

Notice Description

Essex County Council is procuring on behalf of Essex Housing LLP, for a Principal Contractor to deliver Phase 3 Construction works at Lexden Gardens Housing Development site, through an Open Tender Sourcing Procedure. The resulting contract will sit between Essex Housing LLP and the successful Bidder. The proposed works are the refurbishment, alteration, and extension works to three blocks at the former Essex County Hospital site (Lexden Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3NB), to provide 8nr new homes (6nr flats and 2nr houses), and the construction of 21nr new build townhouses, including associated external works, drainage, and services. External facade works to the nurses block on the site are also included in this construction project. Potter Raper Ltd are Essex Housing's nominated Employer's Agent and Principal Designer. The successful bidder will be expected to work alongside Essex Housing, Essex County Council and Potter Raper, in the successful delivery of this project. Section 73 planning application approval is pending. The information in this notice is published with the following assumptions and will be updated when the contract is signed: 1. Anticipated date of contract signature: today's date for notice publication purposes only; will require update pending receipt of Section 73 planning application approval. 2. Contract start date: estimated date; may require update pending receipt of Section 73 planning application approval. 3. Contract end date: estimated date; assumes an 18-month contract period (to practical completion), and a further 24-month defects period. May require update pending receipt of Section 73 planning application approval. 4. Contract value: now includes a 3% uplift due to inflation pressures in market (agreed in May 2026) The notice will be updated with a final version of information when the contract is signed and appended.

Planning Information

The Market Engagement Information Pack is available on the Proactis ProContract web portal. Interested parties are invited to download and engage with this Preliminary Market Engagement by: 1. Go to: https://procontract.due-north.com/Opportunities 2. Search for Essex County Council from the organisation list 3. Search for Project ref: DN771864 or title "EHDLLP_PL0100 - Lexden Gardens (former Essex County Hospital) Phase 3 Development" 4. Select "express interest" in this opportunity 5. Download the Market Engagement Information Pack and complete the attached questionnaire by the deadline date. The deadline for responses is Monday 5th May 2025. Important information: This notice is not a call for competition to procure any works or services and is not published to reduce time limited for the receipt of tenders. Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or (lack) to this notice. Nor shall a response to this notice guarantee an invitation to participate a future procurement process that Essex County Council may conduct. The Council may at its sole discretion hold further conversations with individual organisations. Essex County Council is not liable for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any party responding to this notice or any party who may participate in the market consultation exercise. Please direct all queries through the ProContract messaging function. Anyone contacting the Council directly via email will be directed to the portal for communications. A registered supplier account is needed to access information, but registration is free of charge. The Proactis supplier helpdesk (https://www.proactis.com/uk/support-login/support/) can help with registration queries. Please direct any technical queries to the helpdesk in the first instance, selecting the Supplier Support option on the home page.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-050428
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077020-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Planning, Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

CPV Codes

45000000 - Construction work

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£14,000,000 £10M-£100M
Lots Value
£14,000,000 £10M-£100M
Awards Value
£11,853,695 £10M-£100M
Contracts Value
£12,205,705 £10M-£100M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
13 Aug 20262 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
19 Nov 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
26 Aug 2025Expired
Award Date
27 Feb 20266 months ago
Contract Period
1 Oct 2026 - 31 Mar 2030 3-4 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Essex County Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
CHELMSFORD
Postcode
CM1 1QH
Postcode Area
Chelmsford
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLH East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLH3 Essex
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLH36 Heart of Essex
Delivery Location
TLH3 Essex
Local Authority
Chelmsford
Electoral Ward
Moulsham and Central
Westminster Constituency
Chelmsford

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

GIPPING CONSTRUCTION LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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