Planning

Development Partner Innovation Park Medway_Northern Site

MEDWAY COUNCIL

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

PlanningUpdate

04 Mar 2026 at 15:39

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

13 Feb 2026 at 16:05

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Medway Council, a sub-central government public authority located in Chatham, United Kingdom, is seeking a development partner for the Innovation Park Medway Northern Site. The procurement process is currently in the planning stage, with a market engagement deadline for questions on 17th March 2026. The tender focuses on the 'works' category, specifically site-development and the creation of commercial space designed to attract inward investment and foster business growth in Medway, with a focus on Rochester. A formal tender notice is expected on 5th June 2026, and the contract period is set from 1st June 2027 to 29th December 2034. The estimated value of the project is £100,000,000, with a gross value of £120,000,000.

This tender presents a significant opportunity for firms specialising in site-development work and commercial real estate development. Businesses interested in driving innovation and supporting economic growth in areas like high-technology and research and development would be well-suited to compete. The procurement requires a development agreement that ensures obligations and performance standards, allowing for strategic control and a balanced risk profile. Companies with a strong background in creating hubs for knowledge-based employment and innovation, particularly those capable of delivering adaptive developments, are encouraged to engage with Medway Council. Leveraging existing partnerships and collaborations with local universities could be beneficial in contributing to long-term economic sustainability for the region.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Development Partner Innovation Park Medway_Northern Site

Notice Description

The fundamental aim and objective of IPM North was to provide contemporary commercial space that would attract inward-investment and enable innovation and business growth in Medway with a focus on Rochester. Additionally, IPM North would help the Council attract new businesses and realise the reinvestment of business rates. This is also one of the core benefits of the North Kent Enterprise Zone. IPM North was promoted following a raft of Council-instructed research and evidence which demonstrated that Medway and Rochester contained areas of economic and social deprivation and a disproportion of investment in high-technology and research and development (R&D) space, compared to other locations in Kent and the south-east. IPM North, when fully operational, was expected to encourage collaboration, the sharing of skills, ensure flexibility of workspaces to foster face-to-face communication and to allow for technology change and at the same time strengthen links with local universities which already provide highly skilled talent and world-class research and development facilities. The core aims and objectives of the IPM North development remain the same including: * Creating a hub for knowledge-based employment and innovation. * Improving the number and quality of jobs. * Retaining and increasing the local skills base. * Creating an innovation environment that fosters entrepreneurial activity. * Achieve long-term economic sustainability. * Delivering an adaptive development to meet changing demand. PREFERRED DELIVERY APPROACH The Council has considered the delivery options for IPM North and its preferred delivery approach is to procure a development partner with a development agreement entered by both parties with a clear set of obligations and performance requirements. This model has been chosen by the Council to retain strategic control over the development and provide them with a more balanced risk profile than direct delivery, a joint venture, or a land sale.

Planning Information

Please see the attached brief. Please can you return your completed questions via email to Jon Pinkerton and Ben Le Coq at Carter Jonas by 3rd March 2026, as well Nigel Ford at Medway Council

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-065448
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/019617-2026
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

70 - Real estate services

CPV Codes

45111291 - Site-development work

70112000 - Development of non-residential real estate

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£100,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
4 Mar 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
5 Jun 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
31 May 2027 - 29 Dec 2034 Over 5 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
MEDWAY 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
CHATHAM
Postcode
ME4 4TR
Post Town
Rochester
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLJ South East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLJ4 Kent
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLJ41 Medway
Delivery Location
TLJ41 Medway
Local Authority
Medway
Electoral Ward
Chatham Central & Brompton
Westminster Constituency
Rochester and Strood

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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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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