Planning

Development Partner Selection - Former Hexham Middle School Site

NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

03 Nov 2025 at 08:48

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

30 Oct 2025 at 15:59

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

21 Oct 2025 at 14:49

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Northumberland County Council is currently in the planning stage of a procurement process to appoint a development partner for a scheme at the former Hexham Middle School site. This project involves the development of mixed-use residential housing and an adult extra care facility over a 6.1-hectare site in Hexham, United Kingdom. The site falls within the Hexham Conservation Area and includes the historically significant Grade II Listed Fellside Building. An essential milestone is the scheduled open viewing of the Fellside and Gatehouse buildings on 13th November 2025, from 9:30 to 12:30. Interested parties are required to register via the OPEN Portal system, and feedback on potential uses for the buildings is encouraged after the viewing. The contracting period is set to begin on 25th September 2026 and extend to 31st August 2029, with potential renewal options available, and the procurement method involves a concession under the works category.

This tender offers substantial opportunities for businesses in the construction sector, particularly those specialising in residential and care facilities. Firms with experience in dealing with historic buildings and developments within conservation areas would be well-suited to this project. Additionally, involvement in this procurement process could provide valuable insights into public procurement and allow businesses to influence future contractual specifications to ensure they align with market capabilities. The procurement presents significant investment opportunities, as funding can be sourced through various channels, including Homes England Affordable Homes Programme and S106 Developer Funding. Engaging in this project will enable businesses to expand their portfolios in the housing and care provision sectors while contributing to fulfilling critical community needs in Hexham.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Development Partner Selection - Former Hexham Middle School Site

Notice Description

Interest was expressed during previous market engagement to view the Fellside and Gatehouse buildings, these will be open viewing on the following date. Thursday 13th November 2025 from 9.30 to 12.30. Any requests to visit the buildings must be requested via OPEN Portal system https://www.open-uk.org/ Places will be limited. A heritage assessment is being carried out but this will not be available for the site visit. We would like to receive feedback on potential uses for the buildings after the viewings. Northumberland County Council (NCC) is looking to conduct a procurement exercise to appoint a Development Partner or Partner(s) for a development scheme at the former Middle School site in Hexham. The development scheme will consist of mixed-use residential housing and an adult extra care facility across the 6.1 -hectare site. Northumberland County Council is the freehold owner of the site, and the Development Partner(s) will be required to acquire the site in whole or part and deliver the proposed scheme in whole or part. To support this, we would like to gain information from the market regarding a number of areas related to the future procurement exercise. NCC is issuing this request for information only, in order to assess the reaction of potential partners and the broader market and make any potential procurement process more focused and efficient. The benefits to your organisation in participating in this process include: - the chance to assess whether the opportunity will be suitable and of interest to you - ensuring that specifications are realistic and market-focused - the chance to raise any risks, concerns or issues regarding the potential opportunity The responses will be highly valued and will assist us in creating a procurement process which is well-framed, focused, feasible and likely to be of interest to the market. There is no commercial advantage or disadvantage to your organisation as a result of being involved in this market testing exercise. This process focuses on the market as a whole, rather than on the merits of individual suppliers. It involves no element of supplier selection or bid evaluation. Finally, please be assured that any commercially sensitive information provided to us as part of this process will be treated in confidence, used only for the purposes of this market testing exercise, and will not be disclosed to any other organisation, subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Description of the Proposed Procurement for Development Partner - Former Hexham Middle School Site Northumberland County Council is the freehold owner of the former Hexham Middle School site. This 6.1-hectare site sits close to the centre of the historic market town and provides a first-class opportunity for a mixed use residential and extra care scheme in a beautiful setting. The site lies within the Hexham Conservation Area and contains the historic Grade II Listed Fellside Building. There has been an extensive community consultation process, resulting in a preferred masterplan for development. This focused on the key needs for Hexham which are more housing, both for sale and to include affordable housing, along with an extra care facility. The extra care facility will be operated by a registered provider. The Council is seeking to appoint a Development Partner or Partner(s) to finalise the design, secure implementable planning permission, construction and conversion to achieve the development scheme at the former Middle school site in Hexham. The scheme is to follow the principles set out by the Council in the various design guides that the Council has had prepared on its behalf. Development Partner(s) will be required to acquire the site and deliver the proposed scheme. The land is offered to the Development Partner(s) on terms to be agreed and the Development Partner(s) should make an offer for the land as part of the procurement process. Tenderers will fund these schemes via their own reserves, external investors and Homes England Affordable Homes Programme grant funding. The existing Affordable Homes Programme is ending with a new programme expected to be announced in March 2025; this may mean changes to the existing grant funding agreements which are available via the gov.uk website. We also anticipate Tenderers will apply for S106 Developer Funding to deliver the scheme. Tenderers will also be able to bid for Adult, Ageing and Wellbeing funding to deliver the extra care facility. Supporting documentation is available on the Northumberland County Council's planning portal website via the hyperlink below: 24/03778/OUT | Outline permission (all matters reserved) for demolition of existing buildings and walling, and subsequent erection of up to 200no. dwellings (including extra care provision) and associated works | Former Hexham Middle School Site Wanless Lane Hexham Northumberland NE46 1BU

Planning Information

Interest was expressed during previous market engagement to view the Fellside and Gatehouse buildings, these will be open viewing on the following date. Thursday 13th November 2025 from 9.30 to 12.30. Any requests to visit the buildings must be requested via OPEN Portal system https://www.open-uk.org/ Places will be limited. A heritage assessment is being carried out but this will not be available for the site visit. We would like to receive feedback on potential uses for the buildings after the viewings.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05d0ed
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/070290-2025
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Works
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

45 - Construction work

CPV Codes

45211000 - Construction work for multi-dwelling buildings and individual houses

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
3 Nov 20251 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
13 Nov 2025Expired
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
24 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2029 2-3 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planning
Lots Status
Planning
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY COUNCIL
Contact Name
Not specified
Contact Email
teresa.skelly@northumberland.gov.uk
Contact Phone
Not specified

Buyer Location

Locality
MORPETH
Postcode
NE61 2EF
Post Town
Newcastle upon Tyne
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC4 Northumberland, Durham and Tyne & Wear
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC42 Northumberland
Delivery Location
TLC2 Northumberland, and Tyne and Wear
Local Authority
Northumberland
Electoral Ward
Morpeth Kirkhill
Westminster Constituency
North Northumberland

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

Download

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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