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Procurement of a master developer partner for the delivery of the Smedley's Hydro Project.

Derbyshire County Council

This public procurement record has 4 releases in its history.

TenderUpdate

20 May 2026 at 09:23

UK4 - Tender Notice
Tender

30 Apr 2026 at 15:58

UK4 - Tender Notice
PlanningUpdate

04 Mar 2026 at 15:19

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Planning

02 Mar 2026 at 14:46

UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Derbyshire County Council is seeking to appoint a master developer partner for the Smedley's Hydro Project, involving the redevelopment of County Hall and the associated grounds in Matlock, UK. The procurement process, currently in the tender update stage, involves a substantial project with an estimated gross value of £160 million. The ambitious development plans include transforming a historical building into a hotel, establishing a new civic office, and creating residential and co-working spaces. The competitive procedure aims to select a single Development Partner, with the deadline for expressing interest set for 29th May 2026. The procurement approach invites three bidders to tender after initial evaluations, with the project scheduled to commence on 18th February 2027.

This opportunity presents significant growth potential for businesses in the construction, real estate, and architectural engineering sectors. Companies capable of handling large-scale projects with requirements for creative and functional redevelopment strategies are ideally positioned to compete. Businesses with experience in heritage asset restoration and the provision of leisure and tourism facilities can leverage this project to expand their portfolio and achieve significant regional impact. The project not only aims to secure the ongoing presence of the council but also promises to catalyse local economic development, making it a lucrative venture for firms seeking to establish or expand their footprint in the UK real estate and construction markets.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Procurement of a master developer partner for the delivery of the Smedley's Hydro Project.

Notice Description

The Council is seeking to procure a Development Partner for the redevelopment of County Hall and the associated grounds, prior to the Council's occupation known as Smedley's Hydropathic Establishment. The project proposes the conversion of the c.16,750sqm listed South Block of the current Matlock County Hall into a flagship hotel, with events, and potential conference and leisure facilities. The project also includes delivery of a new cost effective, flexible office building, along with a refurbished space in the Co-op Building on Smedley Street for the Council to occupy in order to retain a presence on site. The project will be further supported by delivery of new build enabling residential development and the provision of co-working space for local businesses, alongside other supporting and complementary uses. Applications for outline planning and listed building consents envisage delivery of up to 100 hotel beds, up to 5,000sqm new civic office building, up to 95 new homes, plus workspace and events/leisure space. The project aims to deliver major economic impact on the town of Matlock and beyond, secure the ongoing presence for the Council, restoration and maximising the value of heritage assets, and a significant boost to the local tourism and visitor economy. The Council is seeking to appoint a single Development Partner with responsibility for the delivery of the whole project. That partner may deliver all aspects of the project directly or introduce sub-developers and sub-contractors to deliver some parts, though retaining overall strategic oversight of the whole. It should be noted that the 'total value (estimated)' stated below in this notice is the estimated construction value of the site including the development of the co-working space which will be retained by the Council.

Planning Information

Between August 2025 and January 2026, the Council's advisers, Montagu Evans, undertook a market engagement exercise. The advisers engaged with suppliers to understand the level of interest in the development of the current Council site, alongside identifying suppliers able to meet the requirements of the contracting authority. The engagement exercise also sought suppliers' views on appropriate approaches to structuring the project contractually, commercially and in terms of procurement. A report setting out the approach to and outputs of the preliminary market engagement is available, please email Stuart.Etchells@derbyshire.gov.uk The Council's advisors took steps to ensure that suppliers involved in the exercise are not put at an unfair advantage in any competition in relation to a contract award to be carried out. Steps will continue to be taken in this regard. This PME notice is not a call for competition. It is the Council's intention to publish a tender notice on or about March 2026.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-065fd9
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/046058-2026
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

70 - Real estate services

71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

CPV Codes

45000000 - Construction work

70000000 - Real estate services

71000000 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£138,400,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
£138,400,000 £100M-£1B
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
20 May 20263 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
18 Feb 2027 - 17 Feb 2037 Over 5 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Derbyshire 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
MATLOCK
Postcode
DE4 3AG
Postcode Area
Derby
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLF East Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLF13 South and West Derbyshire
Delivery Location
TLF1 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire
Local Authority
Derbyshire Dales
Electoral Ward
Matlock West
Westminster Constituency
Derbyshire Dales

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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