--- title: "Expression of Interest - Ashton Market" ocid: "ocds-b5fd17-90252b53-e752-4959-b4d3-c4d5fa49455d" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-90252b53-e752-4959-b4d3-c4d5fa49455d" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-90252b53-e752-4959-b4d3-c4d5fa49455d.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-90252b53-e752-4959-b4d3-c4d5fa49455d.json" source: "Contracts Finder" current_stage: "Planning" buyer: "WIGAN COUNCIL" published: "2025-02-12" --- # Expression of Interest - Ashton Market Buyer: WIGAN COUNCIL Current stage: Planning OCID: ocds-b5fd17-90252b53-e752-4959-b4d3-c4d5fa49455d [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-90252b53-e752-4959-b4d3-c4d5fa49455d) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-90252b53-e752-4959-b4d3-c4d5fa49455d.json) ## Summary Wigan Council is seeking expressions of interest for the Ashton Market project, aimed at appointing an operator to develop a vibrant Ashton Square in England. This planning stage engagement notice was published on 12 February 2025, with a deadline for engagement responses set for 7 March 2025. The project falls under the Construction work (CPV: 45000000) and Development consultancy services (CPV: 73220000) categories. Wigan Council, located at Wigan Town Hall, is managing this procurement process, and interested parties are encouraged to register their interest via The Chest procurement portal. This tender provides significant business growth opportunities, particularly for SMEs and VCSEs, by allowing businesses to manage and operate Ashton Market. Suitable businesses include those experienced in market operations, event planning, and infrastructure management. The successful operator will engage in a range of tasks from market stall layout planning to daily market management, organising market events, handling waste disposal, and ensuring security. This comprehensive role entails a mix of operational, promotional, and management duties that promise expansive growth and visibility for the selected business within the community and regional market activities. ## Notice he Council is looking to appoint an operator to create a successful vibrant Ashton Square. The selected operator / place manager will: - Work with the Council and the Council's design team to finalise plans for the layout of Ashton Square, including the balance, mix and size options for the permanent and temporary stalls - Work with the Council to build interest and excitement in the opening of the new Market Square during the construction period - Hold an opening launch event - Hold markets on a weekly basis at least three, or ideally four days per week, with occasional evening and weekend events. - Run campaigns and host events (e.g. Fair Trade, Food and live events) within the new Market Square to improve the offer during the day and to consider options around expansion of future evening offer - Hold innovative monthly themed events, centred on Local Producers and Crafts, and opportunities for community groups or events etc - Manage the Market Square area and Occupiers on a day-to-day basis - Repair and maintain all the elements of operators' Market Equipment, reporting any minor works associated with the Council's responsibility - Clean Ashton Square area and the public toilets to the Council's Street Cleansing standards before, during and after each market - Accepting that Market Trader Fees will depend upon agreed operating model, ensure Market Trader Fees Pricing Schedule is available and up-to-date and consult with and seek the Council's approval to any changes to Fees - Collect Occupier Fees - Deal with all Occupier & Customer Queries - Allocating Occupiers their respective location and stall - Pay all utility bills and the recharge of costs to occupiers - Remove and Recycle Waste as appropriate (waste and recycling is the responsibility of the successful bidder / prospective operator; not the Council); and - Ensure appropriate Security Measures are in place and Health & Safety Standards are met. Once you have registered your interest via The Chest procurement portal please upload your response to the portal prior to the given deadline. The purpose of this exercise is to gauge the level of interest in this opportunity and obtain information from the market, so all responses are very much appreciated. For the avoidance of doubt, this notice is for the purpose of conducting a pre-market engagement and does not formally begin a procurement process or constitute any commitment by Wigan Council to undertake any procurement exercise. Furthermore, potential bidders will not be prejudiced by not responding to this pre-market engagement notification. Potential bidders must also note that a response to this notice does not guarantee an invitation to participate in this, or any future procurement that Wigan Council may conduct. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Contracts Finder | | Latest notice | https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c39b5883-bc37-45ff-96f6-be9f89a7f6e0 | | Notice type | Market Engagement Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Not specified | | Procurement method | Not Specified | | Procurement method details | Not specified | | Tender suitability | SME, VCSE | | Awardee scale | Not specified | | All stages | Planning | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 12 Feb 2025 | | Submission deadline | Not specified | | Future notice date | 7 Mar 2025 | | Award date | Not specified | | Contract period | Not specified | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | Not specified | | Lots value | Not specified | | Awards value | Not specified | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Planning | | Lots status | Not specified | | Awards status | Not specified | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | WIGAN COUNCIL | | Locality | WIGAN | | Post town | Wigan | | Postcode | WN1 1YN | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLD North West (England) | | ITL 2 | TLD3 Greater Manchester | | ITL 3 | TLD36 Greater Manchester North West | | Local authority | Wigan | | Electoral ward | Wigan Central | | Westminster constituency | Wigan | | Delivery location | TLC North East (England), TLD North West (England), TLF East Midlands (England), TLG West Midlands (England), TLH East (England), TLJ South East (England), TLK South West (England) | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 45 - Construction work - 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services ### Codes - 45000000 - Construction work - 73220000 - Development consultancy services ## Release History - 12 Feb 2025 at 16:50 - Planning - Market Engagement Notice - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c39b5883-bc37-45ff-96f6-be9f89a7f6e0 ## Documents - https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/c39b5883-bc37-45ff-96f6-be9f89a7f6e0 12th February 2025 - Early engagement notice on Contracts Finder - http://www.the-chest.org.uk The Pre-Market Engagment information can be accessed via the link below ## Notice URLs - http://www.wigan.gov.uk/ ## Provenance This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-b5fd17-90252b53-e752-4959-b4d3-c4d5fa49455d. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-b5fd17-90252b53-e752-4959-b4d3-c4d5fa49455d.json.