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715916490 - Continuation of Post Completion Activities - Annington Homes

Defence Infrastructure Organisation

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

18 Sep 2026 at 12:11

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

04 Sep 2026 at 16:48

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Award

14 Aug 2026 at 16:29

UK5 - Transparency Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation required ongoing legal advisory services for post-completion activities connected with the Annington Homes transaction and related Service Family Accommodation. The work covers enfranchisement, property law and contractual advice following earlier judicial review and property law challenges concerning eight housing units, the Ministry of Defence’s purchase of 36,347 homes, and subsequent obligations to hand back housing units. The requirement includes advice on ongoing post-completion disputes and contractual obligations relating to housing with an aggregated value of £55 million. The service was delivered across the United Kingdom. Forsters LLP, a London-based legal practice, was appointed to provide the service. This is a specialist public-sector property and legal advisory requirement rather than a construction, housing management or general legal services contract.

The procurement is complete and the contract was awarded directly to Forsters LLP. The award date was 4 September 2026, and the contract was signed on 16 September 2026 for the period from 16 September 2026 to 31 March 2027. Its value is £143,000 excluding VAT, or £171,600 including VAT. The procurement used a direct award because Forsters had unique knowledge from the original enfranchisement litigation, the Annington transaction and ongoing post-completion disputes; the buyer considered appointing another firm disproportionately costly or impractical because it would need to duplicate that knowledge. There was one completed lot, marked as suitable for SMEs. The service was classified as legal and legal advisory services, and the award was above the relevant threshold. Forsters LLP is the selected supplier.

This requirement indicates demand for firms able to advise on complex public-sector property transactions after completion, particularly where housing assets, leasehold enfranchisement, judicial review, contractual hand-back obligations and related disputes overlap. A credible competitor for a future requirement would need strong property law and enfranchisement expertise, experience of advising on major acquisitions or disposals of housing assets, and the ability to manage sensitive post-completion legal work for a central government client. Continuity of case knowledge was central to this award, so firms would need to show how they can build and retain a detailed understanding of litigation history, transaction documents, contractual obligations and unresolved disputes. The award also shows that a specialist SME legal practice can provide the required capability when it can demonstrate relevant experience and subject-matter expertise.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

715916490 - Continuation of Post Completion Activities - Annington Homes

Notice Description

Ongoing support is required from Forsters LLP, who were the enfranchisement specialists originally appointed in respect of Judicial Review and property law challenge to a decision by SoS for Defence to issue notices pursuant to section 5 of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967 seeking to enfranchise 8 units of Service Family Accommodation (SFA) by way of test cases. Forsters LLP advised MOD in respect of the High Court trial. Forsters then continued to act for MOD in relation to MOD buying back 36,347 SFA for PS5,994,500,000. This deal completed in January 2025 and MOD is now dealing with post completion activities, including contractual obligation to hand back housing units of an aggregated value amounting to PS55M requiring Forsters LLP's ongoing legal advice.

Procurement Information

Forsters has unique knowledge arising from its involvement in the original enfranchisement litigation, the PS6bn Annington transaction; and the ongoing post-completion disputes. It would be disproportionately costly or impractical for another firm to have to duplicate, especially given the sensitivities with timing and process at this stage.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e503
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/088632-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Direct
Procurement Method Details
Direct award
Tender Suitability
SME
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

79 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

CPV Codes

79100000 - Legal services

79111000 - Legal advisory services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
£143,000 £100K-£500K
Contracts Value
£143,000 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
18 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
4 Sep 20261 months ago
Contract Period
16 Sep 2026 - 31 Mar 2027 6-12 months
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

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

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Defence Infrastructure Organisation
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
LICHFIELD
Postcode
WS14 9PY
Postcode Area
Walsall
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLG West Midlands (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLG2 Shropshire and Staffordshire
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLG24 Staffordshire CC
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Lichfield
Electoral Ward
Whittington & Streethay
Westminster Constituency
Tamworth

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Forsters LLP

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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