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RH019 - Legal advice re asbestos issues at Boots unit, Cleveland Centre

Middlesbrough Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

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17 Aug 2026 at 10:50

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Middlesbrough Council procured legal advice concerning a dispute with Boots UK Ltd about exposed asbestos in the basement of a unit occupied by Boots at the Cleveland Centre. The work covers advice to the Council on the asbestos issue and the related dispute. This is a legal services requirement, falling within business and professional services. Delivery is associated with Middlesbrough, in the North East of England. The buyer is Middlesbrough Council, a sub-central public authority. The requirement is focused on a specific commercial property and environmental liability issue rather than general legal support, making it relevant to firms advising public bodies on property disputes, asbestos liabilities or related commercial matters.

The procurement is complete and the contract has been awarded to Hanover Law Limited. It used a direct award below the applicable threshold, without competition, under the Procurement Act 2023. The award is active and the contract was signed on 21 July 2026. The contract runs from 21 July 2026 to 20 July 2027. Its value is £41,666.66 excluding VAT and £50,000 including VAT. The published procurement is recorded as a single completed lot. The award concerns legal services for the asbestos dispute at the Boots unit in Cleveland Centre. No separate award date is recorded, but the signed contract date establishes when the agreement was executed.

This award demonstrates demand from Middlesbrough Council for specialist legal advice on asbestos exposure in a commercial property dispute. Firms that advise councils, landlords or occupiers on asbestos liability, property-related disputes and negotiations with major commercial tenants would be the closest competitors for comparable work. Credibility would come from relevant experience handling technically sensitive asbestos matters alongside contentious property or commercial advice, and from the ability to advise a public authority through a dispute involving an occupied retail unit. The selected supplier is an SME, indicating that this type of focused requirement can suit a specialist practice rather than only a large national law firm. Experience of public-sector instructions would also strengthen a future response.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

RH019 - Legal advice re asbestos issues at Boots unit, Cleveland Centre

Notice Description

The Council is in dispute with Boots UK Ltd (Boots) in relation to one of the units that they currently occupy at the Cleveland Centre. The dispute is in relation to exposed asbestos within the basement of the demise.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06e558
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/077992-2026
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
Below threshold - without competition
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

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

CPV Codes

79000000 - Business services: law, marketing, consulting, recruitment, printing and security

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£41,666 Under £100K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
17 Aug 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
21 Jul 20261 months ago
Contract Period
21 Jul 2026 - 20 Jul 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
Middlesbrough 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
MIDDLESBROUGH
Postcode
TS1 9FT
Postcode Area
Cleveland
Country
England
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLC North East (England)
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLC3 Tees Valley
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLC32 South Teesside
Delivery Location
Not specified
Local Authority
Middlesbrough
Electoral Ward
Newport
Westminster Constituency
Middlesbrough and Thornaby East

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

HANOVER LAW 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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