--- title: "Lexden Gardens (former Essex County Hospital) Phase 3 Development" ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-050428" canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-050428" markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050428.md" json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050428.json" source: "Find A Tender Service" current_stage: "Award" buyer: "ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL" published: "2026-03-02" --- # Lexden Gardens (former Essex County Hospital) Phase 3 Development Buyer: ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL Current stage: Award OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-050428 [View canonical contract page](https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-050428) [Download OCDS JSON](https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050428.json) ## Summary Essex County Council, acting on behalf of Essex Housing LLP, has completed the award stage for the procurement titled "Lexden Gardens (former Essex County Hospital) Phase 3 Development" in the construction sector. The project entails refurbishment and construction works at the site in Colchester, Essex, aimed at delivering 29 new homes including townhouses and flats, alongside extensive exterior and service works. The procurement process followed an open procedure and culminated with an award notice on 2nd March 2026. Key parties involved include Essex Housing, the buyer, Potter Raper Ltd as the Employer's Agent, and Gipping Construction Limited, the chosen supplier. The contract commencement is scheduled for 2nd June 2026, with the project slated to conclude by the end of 2027. This tender offers significant business growth opportunities, especially for companies within the construction industry that specialise in housing developments and renovations. Large construction enterprises and SMEs alike can benefit from the extensive work required, from the refurbishment of existing buildings to new construction. With Essex Housing LLP overseeing a vast programme of homebuilding across Essex, successful cooperation could lead to future contracts, thus proving advantageous for businesses looking to expand their portfolios. Experienced contractors in residential projects are well-suited to compete, especially those capable of managing phase sharing and complex constructions in politically nuanced environments. ## Notice Essex County Council is procuring on behalf of Essex Housing LLP, for a Principal Contractor to deliver Phase 3 Construction works at Lexden Gardens Housing Development site, through an Open Tender Sourcing Procedure. The resulting contract will sit between Essex Housing LLP and the successful Bidder. The proposed works will be the refurbishment, alteration, and extension works to three blocks at the former Essex County Hospital site (Lexden Road, Colchester, Essex, CO3 3NB), to provide 8nr new homes (6nr flats and 2nr houses), and the construction of 21nr new build townhouses, including associated external works, drainage, and services. Furthermore, external facade works to the nurses block on the site will be included in this construction project. Phase 1 construction works is already underway with an existing incumbent contractor, so some site sharing is envisaged through the contract period. The construction period is anticipated to take 21 months (which includes a 3-month mobilisation period). The defects period is an additional term; further details are provided in the tender pack. The project is currently at RIBA stage 4. Potter Raper Ltd are Essex Housing's nominated Employer's Agent and Principal Designer. The successful bidder will be expected to work alongside Essex Housing, Essex County Council and Potter Raper, in the successful delivery of this project. ### Planning Information The Market Engagement Information Pack is available on the Proactis ProContract web portal. Interested parties are invited to download and engage with this Preliminary Market Engagement by: 1. Go to: https://procontract.due-north.com/Opportunities 2. Search for Essex County Council from the organisation list 3. Search for Project ref: DN771864 or title "EHDLLP_PL0100 - Lexden Gardens (former Essex County Hospital) Phase 3 Development" 4. Select "express interest" in this opportunity 5. Download the Market Engagement Information Pack and complete the attached questionnaire by the deadline date. The deadline for responses is Monday 5th May 2025. Important information: This notice is not a call for competition to procure any works or services and is not published to reduce time limited for the receipt of tenders. Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or (lack) to this notice. Nor shall a response to this notice guarantee an invitation to participate a future procurement process that Essex County Council may conduct. The Council may at its sole discretion hold further conversations with individual organisations. Essex County Council is not liable for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any party responding to this notice or any party who may participate in the market consultation exercise. Please direct all queries through the ProContract messaging function. Anyone contacting the Council directly via email will be directed to the portal for communications. A registered supplier account is needed to access information, but registration is free of charge. The Proactis supplier helpdesk (https://www.proactis.com/uk/support-login/support/) can help with registration queries. Please direct any technical queries to the helpdesk in the first instance, selecting the Supplier Support option on the home page. ## Key Details | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication source | Find A Tender Service | | Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018393-2026 | | Notice type | UK6 - Contract Award Notice | | Procurement type | Standard | | Procurement category | Works | | Procurement method | Open | | Procurement method details | Open procedure | | Tender suitability | SME | | Awardee scale | SME | | All stages | Planning, Tender, Award | ## Dates | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Publication date | 2 Mar 2026 | | Submission deadline | 19 Nov 2025 | | Future notice date | 26 Aug 2025 | | Award date | 27 Feb 2026 | | Contract period | 1 Jun 2026 - 31 Dec 2027 | | Recurrence | Not specified | ## Values | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender value | £14,000,000 | | Lots value | £14,000,000 | | Awards value | £11,853,695 | | Contracts value | Not specified | ## Status | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Tender status | Complete | | Lots status | Complete | | Awards status | Pending | | Contracts status | Not specified | ## Buyer | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Main buyer | ESSEX COUNTY COUNCIL | | Locality | CHELMSFORD | | Post town | Chelmsford | | Postcode | CM1 1QH | | Country | England | | ITL 1 | TLH East (England) | | ITL 2 | TLH3 Essex | | ITL 3 | TLH36 Heart of Essex | | Local authority | Chelmsford | | Electoral ward | Moulsham and Central | | Westminster constituency | Chelmsford | | Delivery location | TLH3 Essex | ## Supplier | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Number of suppliers | 1 | | Supplier names | GIPPING CONSTRUCTION | ## CPV Codes ### Divisions - 45 - Construction work ### Codes - 45000000 - Construction work ## Release History - 2 Mar 2026 at 12:25 - Award - UK6 - Contract Award Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018393-2026 - 30 Sep 2025 at 13:36 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060921-2025 - 26 Aug 2025 at 09:22 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/051152-2025 - 30 Jul 2025 at 08:01 - PlanningUpdate - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044074-2025 - 30 Jul 2025 at 07:59 - PlanningUpdate - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044072-2025 - 16 Apr 2025 at 14:42 - Planning - UK2 - Preliminary Market Engagement Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015635-2025 - 16 Apr 2025 at 13:44 - Planning - UK1 - Pipeline Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015602-2025 ## Documents - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/018393-2026 2nd March 2026 - Contract award notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/060921-2025 30th September 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/051152-2025 26th August 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044074-2025 30th July 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/044072-2025 30th July 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015635-2025 16th April 2025 - Preliminary market engagement notice on Find a Tender - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/015602-2025 16th April 2025 - Pipeline notice on Find a Tender ## Notice URLs - http://kind-build.com - http://www.dchconstruction.co.uk - http://www.gippingconstruction.co.uk - http://www.rosebuilders.co.uk - https://procontract.due-north.com/Opportunities - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents - https://www.proactis.com/uk/support-login/support/ ## 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-h6vhtk-050428. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-050428.json.