---
title: "Procurement of a development partner for the redevelopment of Mayes Yard"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-05497a"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-05497a"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05497a.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05497a.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Tender"
buyer: "BEDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL"
published: "2025-06-16"
---

# Procurement of a development partner for the redevelopment of Mayes Yard

Buyer: BEDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL  
Current stage: Tender  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-05497a

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## Summary

Bedford Borough Council is seeking a development partner for the redevelopment of Mayes Yard, as part of their ambitious regeneration plans for Bedford Town Centre. The project aims to create an exemplary mixed-use development serving as a cultural hub to catalyse further regeneration in Bedford. The redevelopment encompasses approximately 3.5 acres, including key landmarks such as the former Debenhams Department Store and the Central Library. Interested parties must submit expressions of interest by 14th July 2025 at 13:00 BST. The procurement process, currently at the tender update stage, follows a competitive flexible procedure under the selective procurement method, with the contract anticipated to commence in March 2026.

This tender presents significant opportunities for businesses in the construction, real estate development, and architectural sectors. Companies with expertise in mixed-use developments, urban planning, and cultural infrastructure projects would be ideally suited to compete for this contract. The development's scope, valued at £120 million, includes potential for around 250 new homes and various commercial spaces, offering plenty of avenues for business growth. The focus on quality and innovative design, alongside financial and legal robustness, underlines the Council's commitment to selecting a partner capable of realising their vision for Bedford's future.

## Notice

Bedford Borough Council wish to appoint a development partner to enter into a development agreement for the redevelopment of Mayes Yard as part of the Council's overall regeneration plans for Bedford Town Centre. The Council's vision is for an exemplary mixed-use development that will provide a cultural hub for Bedford and act as a catalyst for wider regeneration. The overall site extends to c. 3.5 acres in which the Council own various freehold interests including the former Debenhams Department Store, Central Library, Corn Exchange and Harpur Suite. The Council undertook a massing exercise to understand the potential for the site which indicated potential for c. 250 new homes alongside new retail, leisure and commercial space. Whilst this study is made available to via the Council's procurement portal it is not prescriptive, and the selected developer would work with the Council in bringing forward the designs for the new development alongside other matters to bring the opportunity forward. Alongside commercial and residential development, the Council's project objectives include the re-provision of the Central Library as part of the development and the Council has ambitions to extend the capacity of the Corn Exchange to 1,000+ seats. The contractual arrangements will be through a Development Agreement where land is drawn down upon the satisfaction of conditions. Further particulars in respect of the opportunity are set out in the documents issued via the Council's procurement portal. Between March and May 2025 the Council's advisors undertook a market engagement exercise. They engaged with suppliers to establish the level of interest in the development site and the key parameters for undertaking a procurement. The exercise was also utilised to understand whether any elements of the proposed scheme / the Council's emerging thinking raised any factors bearing on the procurement or commercial terms being developed by the Council within the market. The responses and feedback received (including from meetings held) have informed the Council's requirements, procurement approach, conditions for participation and award criteria, likely suppliers who may be able to supply the services and works, and the intended commercial terms. The engagement also helped the Council establish marked knowledge of, and interest in, the opportunity. Further detail on the market engagement exercise is set out in the Preliminary Market Engagement Notice issued by the Council on 5 June 2025. It should be noted that the 'total value (estimated)' stated in this notice is an expression of the estimated gross development value of the development which could be delivered through the opportunity.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032675-2025 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Tender |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 16 Jun 2025 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 30 Mar 2026 - 1 Apr 2034 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £120,000,000 |
| Lots value | £120,000,000 |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Active |
| Lots status | Active |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | BEDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL |
| Locality | BEDFORD |
| Post town | Milton Keynes |
| Postcode | MK42 9AP |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLH East (England) |
| ITL 2 | TLH2 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire |
| ITL 3 | TLH24 Bedford |
| Local authority | Bedford |
| Electoral ward | Cauldwell |
| Westminster constituency | Bedford |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 45 - Construction work
- 70 - Real estate services
- 71 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

### Codes

- 45000000 - Construction work
- 70110000 - Development services of real estate
- 71000000 - Architectural, construction, engineering and inspection services

## Release History

- 16 Jun 2025 at 14:36 - TenderUpdate - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032675-2025
- 16 Jun 2025 at 14:30 - Tender - UK4 - Tender Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032670-2025

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032675-2025
  16th June 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender
- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/032670-2025
  16th June 2025 - Tender notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- https://in-tendhost.co.uk/bedford/aspx/Home
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## 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-05497a. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-05497a.json.